City Diplomacy & Local Diplomacy

Since 2014, the Firm has been engaged in the research, development and professional application of City Diplomacy and Local Diplomacy as strategic instruments of contemporary global governance. These approaches reflect a structural transformation of international relations, in which cities, regions and local communities increasingly operate as autonomous and proactive actors alongside states and international organisations.

In an interconnected world, territorial communities are confronted with challenges that transcend political borders and administrative competences. Climate adaptation, migration, economic development, digital transformation and social cohesion are no longer confined within national frameworks. They require responses that are simultaneously global in vision and locally grounded in implementation.

Academic literature defines these challenges as “wicked problems” or “super wicked problems”: issues characterised by uncertainty, multiple stakeholders, interdependent causes and long-term consequences. Traditional, state-centred diplomatic models often prove insufficient to address such complexity. City and Local Diplomacy emerge precisely as adaptive governance responses capable of operating within these conditions.

Within this framework, research has explored how territorial reputation and place brand directly affect governance capacity and international positioning. Doctoral research has specifically examined how negative, simplified or distorted representations of a territory can exacerbate institutional fragility, weaken external credibility and constrain the ability of communities to engage effectively on the global stage.

City Diplomacy and the Role of Sub-State Actors

City Diplomacy refers to the growing involvement of cities and local governments in international cooperation, economic relations and cultural exchange. Contemporary cities no longer act solely as administrative units but increasingly function as global actors, participating in transnational networks, shaping policy agendas and contributing to international legal and regulatory discussions.

Urban challenges such as sustainable development, climate resilience, smart infrastructure and digital governance are often addressed more effectively at the local level, where institutional proximity enables faster implementation and closer interaction with communities. Global city networks and municipal cooperation platforms demonstrate how sub-state actors can collectively influence international norms and policy directions.

Local Diplomacy extends this logic beyond cities to encompass regions, metropolitan areas, third-sector organisations and other territorial actors. These entities often engage in cross-border cooperation that is more flexible, pragmatic and durable than traditional diplomatic channels, allowing for experimentation, long-term partnerships and context-sensitive solutions.

Cultural Diplomacy, Soft Power and Place Brand

A central dimension of City and Local Diplomacy lies in the strategic management of soft power. Unlike coercive forms of influence, soft power operates through attraction, credibility and trust. It is rooted in governance quality, cultural vitality, institutional reliability and the capacity of a place to project a coherent and credible identity.

Place brand constitutes a core component of soft power. It reflects how a city or region is perceived internationally and directly affects its ability to attract investment, talent, partnerships and opportunities. A strong place brand enhances strategic autonomy, while a damaged or misrepresented one can limit development potential and reinforce structural disadvantages.

Global reputation does not derive from a single factor, such as tourism or exports, but from the interaction of multiple dimensions. Structured analytical models, such as Simon Anholt’s Place Brand Hexagon, highlight how governance, economic credibility, cultural production, openness, people and international engagement jointly shape perception. City and Local Diplomacy operate across these dimensions, not as promotional tools, but as governance strategies aimed at building sustainable and authentic international positioning.

Policy Design and Systemic Governance

City and Local Diplomacy are not improvised activities. They require legal clarity, institutional coordination and strategic coherence. For this reason, advisory activity in this field integrates transnational legal frameworks, policy design and systemic governance analysis.

Policy Design and systems thinking enable institutions to understand interdependencies, anticipate reputational and regulatory risks, and align diplomatic initiatives with long-term governance objectives. City and Local Diplomacy thus become operational instruments for institutional learning, strategic positioning and international cooperation, rather than isolated communication efforts.

Within this perspective, the Firm supports public institutions, municipal and regional authorities and third-sector organisations seeking to strengthen their international engagement, improve reputational positioning and develop durable cross-border partnerships. Advisory work focuses on embedding diplomatic initiatives within broader governance and development strategies, ensuring consistency between identity, policy and institutional capacity.

In an interconnected global environment, territorial actors are increasingly required to operate beyond borders while remaining firmly rooted in their communities. City and Local Diplomacy provide the framework through which this balance can be achieved.

Act local. Think global.