City diplomacy and the internationalization of cities

In this chapter, the first part will be devoted to conceptualizing the notion of city diplomacy, while the second will address its explanatory and normative dimensions. In the first part, a definition of city diplomacy will be provided, along with key reference points on the actors and dynamics involved. In addition, the relevance of city diplomacy for the issue of democratization of politics will be addressed to highlight the progressive potential of such a practice. In the second part, the key variables to explain the development of city diplomacy will be studied, as divided into inside-out and outside-in ones. Conclusions on the future of city diplomacy will be provided thereafter.