City Diplomacy

2 Credits.

Across today's interconnected world, cities have emerged as pivotal actors in international affairs. People, ideas, capital, goods, and services circulate through global networks whose hotspots are urban; cities serve as the principal sites of innovation, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship, while standing simultaneously on the frontline of the most pressing geopolitical, economic, social, cultural, and environmental challenges of our time. Over the past several decades, a growing number of municipalities worldwide have risen to prominence as influential players in international relations. From economic, cultural, and scientific cooperation to sustainable development, public health, and humanitarian assistance, cities and their transnational networks have been deploying informal, flexible, and increasingly effective instruments of diplomacy. This 2-credit course introduces graduate students to the field of city diplomacy through a comparative and interdisciplinary lens combining international relations, urban studies, area studies, international economics, and international law. Drawing on the emerging scholarly literature and a curated selection of primary sources from cities and international actors across all world regions, the six intensive sessions examine the core features, governance arrangements, tangible impact, and ongoing evolution of city diplomacy. The closing session, dedicated to the international engagement of Bologna, anchors the broader theoretical and comparative content in the host city of SAIS Europe.