City diplomacy in a fragmented world: hybridity, informality, and power reconfiguration

This introductory chapter to the monograph analyses how city diplomacy is evolving amid geopolitical fragmentation and a weakening multilateral order. It identifies four key trends that have shaped the trajectory of city networks over the past decade. First, the consolidation of hybrid and multistakeholder modes of governance. Second, the proliferation of informal and temporary inter-city alliances driven by pragmatism. Third, the emergence of a more assertive Global South, which has brought new leadership and regional initiatives into the global ecosystem of city networks, ultimately challenging longstanding Western dominance. Finally, the reconfiguration of agency within city networks alongside the growing influence of global secretariats. Together, these dynamics reflect a shift toward more flexible, pragmatic, and politically diverse forms of urban cooperation.