City diplomacy in a fragmented world: Geopolitical tensions, the crisis of multilateralism, and the rising Global South

CIDOB Monographs 90

Since the late 20th century, cities have progressively asserted themselves as influential actors in international affairs, propelled by their demographic centrality and economic weight. This outward orientation has been facilitated by the proliferation of transnational municipal networks, which provide institutionalised platforms for resource pooling, knowledge exchange, and the pursuit of collective policy objectives. City diplomacy, once a marginal phenomenon, has thus become an increasingly salient dimension of global governance. 

The contemporary landscape of city diplomacy, however, is markedly more complex than a few decades ago. Its evolution must be understood in relation to both the internal dynamics of the networks themselves and the broader transformations of the international system. Internally, the institutionalisation of city networks has conferred growing authority upon their secretariats, while private sector actors have assumed a more prominent role in financing and shaping agendas. At the same time, intermunicipal relations are increasingly conditioned by the geopolitical interests of nation-states, exposing city diplomacy to the tensions generated by the erosion of multilateralism. Furthermore, the expanding international engagement of cities in the Global South signals a reconfiguration of power relations within global governance, challenging the historical predominance of Western actors. 

The CIDOB Monograph City Diplomacy in a Fragmented World: Geopolitical Tensions, the Crisis of Multilateralism, and the Rising Global South gathers contributions by scholars from across the world to analyse the multiple dimensions of city diplomacy. It explores how cities and city networks are reshaping global diplomacy amid geopolitical turbulence, institutional fragility, and shifting power balances.

ISBN: 978-84-18977-35-0