The recent emergence of many new states and the creation of a large number of international institutions have resulted in considerable growth in the number of persons having diplomatic status. However, an unfortunate side-effect of this growth has been a corresponding increase in the number of attacks on diplomatic personnel, as symbolic figures diplomats are targets for all types of political violence.This book provides an in-depth examination of the legal and non-legal regimes directed towards the protection of diplomatic personnel around the world. It examines the theoretical and practical justifications for the granting of special protection to such personnel and also particular recent developments in international law relating to the prevention of terrorism and the development of international criminal law, including the International Criminal Court.