Historically speaking, before the emergence of national states in Europe, the dominant actors of foreign policy have been already cities. But latest after the Westphalian Peace in 1648 nations and their representatives became - till today - the main and super dominant actors in diplomacy and foreign cooperation. Today, the whole post WW2 international public law bases most of on contracts between states. But is that still contemporary and sustainable?
Various arguments can be instead highlighted for the need and emergence of influence for city diplomacy. On the one hand, since 21st century more than half of the world population is living in cities, prognoses show even higher shares for the next 30 years. Megacities like London, Tokyo or Istanbul are more inhabited that small and medium size nations.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Position Paper
- Introduction
- Arguments for a demand of city diplomacy
- Doing city diplomacy
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This position paper argues for the growing importance of city diplomacy in the face of globalization and the evolving nature of international relations. It explores the need for a more complex understanding of global political decision-making processes, moving beyond the traditional dominance of national states.
- The increasing role of cities in global politics
- The need for greater recognition of subnational actors in diplomacy
- The potential benefits and challenges of city diplomacy
- The evolution of city diplomacy in different political systems
- The professionalization of city diplomacy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by outlining the historical context of diplomacy, highlighting the traditional dominance of nation-states and the emerging role of cities as international actors. It argues for the need to consider the unique potential of subnational actors in a globalized and digitalized world.
- Arguments for a demand of city diplomacy: This section presents various arguments for the need and emergence of influence for city diplomacy. It discusses the significant economic and political power of cities, their role as incubators for innovation, and the potential for efficiency in implementing public policies at the local level. It also highlights the need for terminological differentiation in academia when discussing various subnational actors.
- Doing city diplomacy: This chapter examines the ways in which cities are already engaging in subnational foreign policy. It discusses the establishment of physical representational offices abroad, the emergence of international networks on specific policy issues, and the professionalization of cities' international activities. It also considers the role of mayors and local governors in shaping municipal foreign policies and advocating for change within their national states.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this text include city diplomacy, para-diplomacy, subnational foreign policy, globalization, international relations, international non-governmental organizations, supra-national organizations, mega-cities, and urbanisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is City Diplomacy?
City diplomacy refers to the international relations and foreign policy activities conducted by cities and subnational actors, independent of their national governments.
Why is city diplomacy becoming more important today?
With over half the world's population living in cities and megacities like London or Tokyo having more power than some nations, cities are becoming key political and economic actors.
What happened to city diplomacy after the Westphalian Peace of 1648?
After 1648, nation-states became the dominant actors in diplomacy, overshadowing the historical role cities played before the emergence of national states.
How do cities engage in international policy?
Cities establish representational offices abroad, join international networks for specific issues, and professionalize their international activities through mayors and local governors.
What is "para-diplomacy"?
Para-diplomacy is a term used in academia to describe the foreign policy actions of subnational entities like cities, regions, or provinces.
What are the benefits of city diplomacy?
Cities act as incubators for innovation and can implement public policies more efficiently at the local level compared to large national bureaucracies.
- Quote paper
- Carlo Hohnstedter (Author), 2021, The Future of City Diplomacy in Geopolitics. A Position Paper, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1259015
