Isabella Carter
Diplomacy has been a critical tool for city-states throughout history, from ancient Greece to the modern era. City-states, such as those in ancient Greece, dispatched envoys to negotiate specific issues like war, peace, and trade. This laid the foundation for the development of diplomacy, with the creation of permanent embassies and the establishment of international laws and protocols. Today, city and state diplomacy remains crucial, with local governments playing a central role in addressing transnational challenges and cultivating international ties. This form of diplomacy offers practical solutions and strengthens foreign policy by building trust and partnerships that benefit communities. The recognition of the importance of city and state diplomacy has led to calls for the creation of offices dedicated to subnational diplomacy within state departments, empowering local leaders to engage globally and address contemporary issues.
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What You'll Learn
- City diplomacy can address national and sub-national conflicts
- City-state diplomacy can help cities learn from each other
- City-state diplomacy can help cities build trust and enduring relationships
- City-state diplomacy can help cities share best practices on issues like migration and
- City-state diplomacy can help cities establish international goals and representation in global policy spaces
City diplomacy can address national and sub-national conflicts
City diplomacy has been defined as the activities and relationships between cities and other subnational entities, with the aim of achieving political, economic, and cultural objectives. It has become an increasingly important tool for subnational entities to influence international affairs.
Secondly, cities can take direct action to address conflicts when national governments fail to do so. For example, in the case of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, despite the treaty being ratified by all UN member states, there was initially slow progress in implementing the ban on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). In response, the city of Irvine took the lead by implementing the first city-level CFC ban in the United States, with Mayor Larry Agran at the forefront. This demonstrated how city diplomacy can fill governance gaps and drive progress on critical global issues.
Thirdly, city diplomacy provides a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices between cities facing similar challenges. For instance, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in direct communication with mayors worldwide, allowing the city to establish drive-through testing sites and reconfigure hospital spaces based on models from Seoul and Milan, respectively. This practical diplomacy showcased how cities can learn from each other and adapt solutions to their local contexts, contributing to more effective crisis management.
Additionally, city diplomacy can address conflicts by promoting social justice and countering xenophobic and racist narratives that often fuel tensions. For example, in response to President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, California Governor Jerry Brown and other U.S. subnational leaders took action to uphold climate commitments. This demonstrated how city diplomacy can uphold universal norms and values, even when national governments fall short.
Finally, city diplomacy can enhance national security by providing a laboratory for creativity and experimentation. Cities can engage in partnerships and exchanges that drive innovation and mutual benefit. For instance, the embassy-supported partnership between Austin and Lahore fostered entrepreneurship and economic growth in both cities. By leveraging these networks and relationships, city diplomacy can contribute to conflict prevention and the advancement of shared global goals.
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City-state diplomacy can help cities learn from each other
City-state diplomacy is a form of practical diplomacy that focuses on methods for delivering better and more equitable public services. Exchanges are highly actionable and focused on priorities like decarbonization, food security, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. They are also rooted in specific contexts and places, which helps determine how success may translate from one community to another.
In the US, city-state diplomacy has no link to foreign policy, which puts the country at risk of falling behind. However, there is growing momentum to recognize and leverage city and state diplomacy. For example, the State Department announced it will co-host a Cities Summit of the Americas in 2023. There is also legislation pending before both houses of Congress to establish an Office of City and State Diplomacy at the State Department. This office would enable the US government to leverage the global leadership and experience of mayors and governors while advancing its domestic agenda.
City-state diplomacy can also help prevent potential vulnerabilities and security risks stemming from unprepared and uninformed interactions with competitors. It can further provide opportunities for cities to address and reshape national and sub-national conflicts, support their peers in achieving sustainable development, and achieve certain levels of regional integration and solidarity.
Overall, city-state diplomacy allows cities to learn from each other, build trust, and form enduring relationships that can lead to new partnerships and improve the lives of citizens.
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City-state diplomacy can help cities build trust and enduring relationships
Historically, ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and ancient Greece laid the foundations for diplomacy, with city-states employing envoys to negotiate peace, form alliances, and establish economic sanctions. Today, cities continue to play a pivotal role in international relations, often independently engaging with foreign counterparts and creating diverse partnerships.
To harness the potential of city-state diplomacy, there is a growing momentum to establish an Office of City and State Diplomacy within the State Department. This office would empower local governments to build capacity and expertise in engaging with global counterparts, ultimately enhancing their ability to address challenges and advance their interests on the world stage.
By investing in city and state diplomacy, cities can leverage their global connections to amplify their impact. Through knowledge-sharing, problem-solving, and collaborative action, cities can build enduring relationships that transcend national boundaries, fostering trust and cooperation to address shared challenges and improve the lives of their citizens.
In conclusion, city-state diplomacy offers a pragmatic approach to international engagement, where cities learn from each other, address shared challenges, and cultivate trust through tangible partnerships. By recognizing the importance of city-state diplomacy, nations can strengthen their foreign policy and promote sustainable development, inclusive growth, and equitable public services.
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City-state diplomacy can help cities share best practices on issues like migration and climate change
City-state diplomacy is an important part of international cooperation, and it can be a powerful tool for cities to share best practices and learn from each other. This is especially relevant for addressing pressing global issues like migration and climate change.
As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, with 50% of the global population living in cities today, projected to reach 70% by 2045, urban centres are facing significant challenges. Population growth in cities will put pressure on resources, including jobs, housing, transportation, healthcare, land, water, and energy. Climate change will further exacerbate these issues, altering migration patterns and increasing the number of people displaced by environmental factors.
Cities can play a crucial role in climate diplomacy, engaging across various levels and contributing specific advantages and capabilities to support international processes and climate action. For example, the C40 network brings megacities together to share practical lessons and successful interventions on climate change. Similarly, the Strong City Network focuses on addressing social inclusion and extremism, while a new urban migration network in Morocco aims to address the UN's global compact on migration and refugees.
Through city-state diplomacy, cities can build trust and enduring relationships, learning from each other's successes and challenges. This was evident during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in communication with mayors worldwide. Los Angeles quickly established drive-through testing sites based on Seoul's model and adopted Milan's approach to reconfiguring hospital spaces. These models were then shared with other US cities, demonstrating the practical benefits of city-to-city diplomacy.
By sharing best practices and working together, cities can develop innovative solutions to address migration and climate change challenges. City-state diplomacy empowers cities to take action and make a meaningful impact, even in the face of federal inaction or divergent priorities. It allows cities to lead by example, influencing national and international policies and advancing sustainable and inclusive goals.
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City-state diplomacy can help cities establish international goals and representation in global policy spaces
City-state diplomacy is an important part of international cooperation, with cities and territorial governments across the world increasingly engaging in foreign policy. This diplomacy is highly pragmatic, offering transferable solutions and demonstrating the application of a country's commitments in context. For example, in 2020, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in communication with mayors around the world to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Los Angeles was able to establish drive-through testing sites as recommended by Seoul and reconfigure hospital spaces as done in Milan.
Cities and states ask one another for help and share what works, with a focus on priorities like decarbonization, food security, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. These exchanges are rooted in specific contexts and places, which helps inform how success may translate from one community to another. Through bilateral exchanges or subnational networks, cities and states can build trust and enduring relationships, opening up new partnerships that improve the lives of citizens.
In the US, there is growing momentum to recognize and leverage city and state diplomacy. Legislation to establish an Office of City and State Diplomacy at the State Department is pending before Congress. This office would enable the US government to leverage the global leadership and experience of mayors and governors while advancing its domestic agenda. It would also help to rebuild the diplomatic corps, providing expanded opportunities for diplomats to sharpen their expertise and benefit from the pragmatic, problem-solving approach practiced at the subnational level.
To harness city diplomacy effectively, a multilevel apparatus is necessary for data collection and broader engagement. This includes strong subnational institutions coordinating international affairs and linking to national counterparts and local sector actors. Dedicated national government offices, including those within foreign affairs organs of the state, should support subnational governments in achieving their international goals and providing representation in global urban policy spaces. This could involve coordinating exchanges and partnerships with foreign counterparts, integrating local governments into multilateral processes, and connecting locales to embassies and consulates abroad.
By investing in city and state diplomacy and strengthening linkages to it, countries can enhance their foreign policy and better address transnational challenges.
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Frequently asked questions
Ancient Greek city-states would dispatch envoys to negotiate issues such as war and peace or commercial relations. Diplomacy was also used to conduct relations with non-Hellenistic rivals, such as the Achaemenid Empire of Persia.
City diplomacy helps the US by allowing cities and states to ask one another for help and share what works in terms of delivering better and more equitable public services. For example, in 2020, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was in contact with mayors around the world to learn how to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. The city established drive-thru testing sites as recommended by Seoul and adopted Milan’s approach to reconfiguring hospital spaces.
City diplomacy in the modern era involves a variety of actors, including governments, non-state actors, and international organizations. It also involves civil society, media, the private sector, and individuals. In addition, the use of technology and social media has led to the emergence of "digital diplomacy," which allows governments to communicate in real-time with a wider audience and with greater engagement.
Local governments are at the center of solving transnational challenges, from climate change to pandemic response and recovery. The solutions they create are models for building a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future as they are informed by and meet the needs of the residents they serve.
