Urban Diplomacy: How Cities Will Leverage Multilateralism

Abstract

Cities and urbanized regions have become part of globalization regardless of size or geographic location. Every city is now a global city aspiring to develop diplomatic, political, and communicative action. The phenomenon contributes to the expansion of the theoretical and practical framework of diplomacy. However, cities innovate in diplomatic practice with their own routines, formats, and models. As a result, urban diplomacy provides new sources of legitimacy (political power close to the citizenry), facilitates the fulfillment of political agendas (local power with the capacity to solve real, local problems), and broadens the range of actors involved in foreign policy. Urban diplomacy can also serve to recover spaces of trust by bringing international issues closer to public opinion and by facilitating cooperation between public and private actors who wish to improve global governance.