William Diebold

Papers

Total Citations

116

H-Index

About

William Diebold is a distinguished scholar of international political economy, whose research focuses on the architecture of post-war economic cooperation, European integration, and the diplomacy of financial systems. His seminal work, *The European Payments Union: Financial Diplomacy in the 1950s* (1990), with over 115 citations, remains the definitive account of how multilateral clearing mechanisms rebuilt trade and trust in war-torn Europe. Diebold’s meticulous archival research reveals the intricate negotiations—spanning national interests, institutional design, and crisis management—that transformed the EPU from a fragile experiment into a cornerstone of Western economic stability. Beyond this magnum opus, his contributions illuminate the interplay between state power and market governance, offering enduring lessons for contemporary debates on regional monetary cooperation. A former director of economic studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Diebold’s work is celebrated for its rare blend of historical depth and policy relevance. For students and researchers, his scholarship is an essential guide to understanding how financial diplomacy can forge peace from the ashes of conflict.