Author: Muharem Rusiti
Photo by: Pixbay
The global challenges the world has been facing in the last decades, have inevitably altered diplomacy as we have known it in the last few centuries. One of the main transformations we have witnessed – particularly in the last few years – is the gradual emergence of non-state subjects as even more increasingly important actors in the world stage.
While states navigate through the traditional routes of international leadership and are still the undisputed protagonists in conducting international affairs, cities – among other actors – are rising little by little as new and more important diplomatic players, heading the world towards a new era of city diplomacy.
As historians will note, this is nothing really new to humanity as cities are perhaps just reclaiming back their earlier and often forgotten central diplomatic role – or at least a small portion of it. This peculiarity dates back to the ancient era of city-states, which started gradually fading particularly after the Westphalia treaties of 1648 that sanctioned the ultimate supremacy of the sovereignty of nation-states over other entities, and could be considered as the origin of the modern international relations system.
Nowadays cities cannot sign international treaties or have embassies around the world – as international law considers them subordinate to the state, and thus greatly limiting their action. Urban centers however, continue to play an important diplomatic role and exert their influence on world affairs by addressing a myriad of transnational challenges and carrying out cultural, political, and economic duties. Other cooperation activities with their international counterparts, with an important intensification of activities taking place especially in recent years, making cities notable hosts of international organizations, embassies, missions of different kinds, and major international events and meetings.
They are also key diplomatic players actively engaging in global policy debates and city-to-city relations by developing twinning networks, projects, sharing of information and best practices. This process encourages collaboration between international private and public entities, enhancing dialogue with counterparts and cooperation agreements in different fields. Additionally, promoting state-sponsored cultural and public diplomacy activities leading to indirect fostering of relations between countries, in some cases, contributing to the drafting of national and international policies; hence actively spurring links across borders and taking part in setting the global agenda.
Although not always on the spotlight, city diplomacy intervenes somehow in nearly all foreign policy areas traditionally managed by nation-states through the dynamic engagement of municipal administrations, and authorities with their foreign counterparts. Therefore, they could be fully considered a form of subnational diplomacy, which helps promote national interests abroad, and achieve transnational goals from a parallel but subordinate level.
Moreover, thanks to their international activism and effort in addressing different global challenges, such as climate change among other issues – major international cities could soon possibly gain the right to have an official seat at the global table, and fully participate in international decision-making processes.
The future of global governance might in fact take the form of a multidimensional system, where nation-states collaborate not only with their counterparts and international organizations of different nature, but also with other subordinate actors such as cities and local governments, and foster a truly international multilevel cooperation.
How can states and governing bodies enhance City Diplomacy?
Policymakers, states and governments worldwide must recognize the strategic role of city diplomacy – especially in terms of a country’s soft power and potential global influence – and see it as a complementary actor rather than a competitor to state-led diplomacy. Such activities should be supported if they wish to exploit its full potential and remain relevant in the new era.
In a modern, fast-paced and hyperconnected world, states must embrace and enhance city diplomacy, provide a framework for diplomatic coordination between national and local governments, and create an Office of Subnational or City Diplomacy within their Departments of Foreign Affairs. These steps would emphasize the convergence of interests of the two parties by crafting an effective and synergistic global engagement strategy, that would enable central governments to fully leverage the power of city diplomacy.
Furthermore, states should also assist and train local government officials and public servants by providing them the necessary practical skills needed to efficiently perform diplomatic activities and empower them on the international stage. In other words, offer them the possibility to acquire at least the basic set of abilities and competences that national diplomats commonly possess.
Finally, urban centers should establish a dedicated Mayoral or City Office of International Affairs, as many US cities like New York and Los Angeles have already done. This will assist in coordinating efforts and actions with the central government to conduct diplomatic activities with international counterparts in a formally institutionalized, professional and well-organized way.
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