Routledge Handbook of Paradiplomacy

This handbook provides an innovative, comprehensive, and authoritative examination of how subnational governments, regions, and municipalities participate in and shape the field of International Relations (IR).
Covering the conceptual, theoretical, methodological, institutional, and practical dimensions of paradiplomacy, it is divided into five parts. Part I focuses on paradiplomacy as a distinct field of research, its conceptual evolution, and its theoretical foundations through classical and alternative theories of IR. Part II presents methodological approaches, including comparative, quantitative, qualitative, and legal studies, as well as multi-level and polycentric governance analyses. Part III examines institutional aspects, discussing the roles of regions, cities, networks, cross-border cooperation, protodiplomacy, identity, and substates' involvement in international organizations. Part IV explores the intersection of paradiplomacy with public policy, covering topics such as environment, climate change, migration, urban management, culture, trade, finance, economic development, security, and decentralized international cooperation. Part V provides a detailed worldwide regional analysis, with case studies from Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa.
Offering a truly global perspective provided by experienced researchers from all over the world, this handbook will appeal to a broad audience, including scholars and students of International Relations, Urban and Regional Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Comparative Politics, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Governance, and Federalism.

List of contents

Introduction Tomasz Kami¿ski, Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska, Jorge A. Schiavon & Rafael Velázquez Flores Part I: Studying paradiplomacy Mapping the Terrain: A Comprehensive Review of Paradiplomacy Literature Tomasz Kaminski, Marcin Frenkel & Natalia Matiaszczyk The evolution of paradiplomacy in the contemporary international context: Taking stock of foundational concepts and moving forward Sandrina Antunes The Dimensions of Paradiplomacy Alexander Kuznetsov Mainstream Theories to Explain Paradiplomacy: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Marxism, and the Three Levels of Analysis Rafael Velázquez Flores Alternative Theories of Paradiplomacy: Neomedievalism, Heterarchy, and Multiplexity Aleksandra Spali¿ska Paradiplomacy through feminist lenses Agata Rydzewska Chapter 7 Practice Theory and Discourse Analysis Craig A. Simon Part II: Methodological analysis of paradiplomacy Comparative Paradiplomacy Jorge A. Schiavon & Rafael Velázquez Flores Quantitative Studies of Paradiplomacy Michä Gzik & Michä Pierzgalski Qualitative Studies on Paradiplomacy Anna Rudakowska Public International Law and Paradiplomacy Stéphane Paquin 2 Paradiplomacy beyond territorial straps: From multi-level to polycentric governance Ana Dias & Sandrina Antunes Part III: Institutional analysis of paradiplomacy Regions and Cities as Instruments of Foreign Policy Cristian Cantir Chapter 14 City Networks Michele Acuto Chapter 15 City diplomacy and the internationalization of cities Raffaele Marchetti 6 Paradiplomatic Cross-Border Cooperation: The Case of Colombia and Venezuela Rafael Duarte Villa & Nicole Grell Macias Dalmiglio 7 Nationalism, Paradiplomacy, and Protodiplomacy André Lecours Chapter 18 Role of Sub-States in International Organizations Willoughby Fortunoff & Nahuel Oddone 19 Resistance Paradiplomacy: States versus Sub-State Governments Marinana Andrade e Barros Part IV. Paradiplomacy and public policy 0 Environment and Climate Change Barbara Regulska-Ingielewicz Breaking the Glass Ceiling of International Cooperation Through Paradiplomacy Marcela López-Vallejo 2 Migration Paradiplomacy Adriana Sletza Ortega & Julieta Nicolao 3 International Engagement as a Tool of Urban Management Anna Kosovac & Daniel Pejic 4 Paradiplomacy and culture: From Society to the Economy Jose L. Niño Amézquita 5 Trade, Finance, and Economic Developmen Lucia Kovacikova 6 Paradiplomacy and security Ray Lara & Daniel Villarruel 7 Decentralized international cooperation Paula Ruiz-Camacho Part V: Paradiplomacy around the world V.1: Europe 8 The Federalization of International Relations in Belgium with Specific Attention to the Case of Flanders David Criekemans 29 Paradiplomacy in the French style Yves Viltard 0 Paradiplomacy in Germany Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska 1 Paradiplomacy in Poland Igor Ksenicz 2 Paradiplomacy in Russia Maciej Rä The paradiplomacy of the Autonomous Communities in Spain: Between rules, borders and identities Ana Luisa Ramírez Soto & Monserrat Iglesias Servín 4 Paradiplomacy in the United Kingdom Carolyn Rowe V.2: The Americas 5 Paradiplomacy in Argentina: Evolution, Challenges, and Opportunities Nicolás Mancini 6 Paradiplomacy in Brazil Mónica Salomón Chapter 37 Paradiplomacy in Chile Raúl Bernal-Meza 8 Paradiplomacy of the Canadian Provinces Stéphane Paquin 39 Colombia: Trends, Types, and Challenges of Paradiplomacy Martha Ardila 0 Paradiplomacy in Mexico Jorge A. Schiavon 1 The United States: Toward the Institutionalization of Paradiplomacy Roberto Dominguez V.3: Asia and the Pacific 2 Paradiplomacy in Australia: Multilevel Tensions but Capacity for Expansion Daniel Pejic 3 The Chinese Local Government's International Activities: A General Assessment Dominik Mierzejewski & Adrian Brona 4 Paradiplomacy in India Prakash Chandra Jha 5 Paradiplomacy in Indonesia Ario Bimo Utomo 6 Paradiplomacy in Japan Akiko Hiratsuka-Sasaki V.4: Africa and the Middle East 7 Paradiplomacy in Turkey: A Story of Emergence, Golden Age, and Expanding Dualities Seven Erdo¿an 8 Paradiplomacy in Nigeria Ohiocheoya Omiunu 49 The Ebbs and Flows of Paradiplomacy in South Africa 30 Years into Democracy Fritz Nganje Conclusions

About the author

Jorge A. Schiavon is a Pofessor of International Relations at the International Studies Department, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, and Member of National Researchers System (SNI), level III. He is Vice-President of the Consejo Mexicano de Estudios Internacionales (COMEXI) and Vice-President of the Centro de Enseñanza y Análisis sobre la Política Exterior de México (CESPEM). Holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs (UCSD), a M.A. in Political Science (UCSD), and a B.A. in International Relations (El Colegio de México). He was President of the Mexican International Studies Association (2011-2013), Secretary General (2004-2007) and Chair of the International Studies Department (2007-2010) at CIDE. He is author or editor of 37 academic books and 150+ articles and chapters.
Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska Ph.D., political scientist and assistant professor at the Department of Asian Studies, member of the Paradiplomacy Lab - Centre for Studies on Paradiplomacy and City Diplomacy at the University of Lodz, Poland. Her research focuses on EU-China relations, regional and municipal cooperation, city diplomacy, and Germany's foreign policy toward China.
Tomasz Kaminski is Chair of the Paradiplomacy Lab - Centre for Studies on Paradiplomacy and City Diplomacy, and associate professor at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz.
Rafael Velázquez Flores is an International Relations professor at the Faculty of Economics and International Relations (FEyRI) of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). He holds a master's degree in International Relations from the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Miami. He was a fellow at the Center for Mexico-United States Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and held the Chair of Mexican Studies in the Fulbright Program at the University of New Mexico in 2024. He was president of the Mexican International Studies Association (AMEI). He is part of the National System of Researchers (SNI), level III, and is a regular member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences (AMC). He is currently president of the Center for Teaching and Analyzing Mexico's Foreign Policy (CESPEM).

Product details

• Authors: Jorge A. Ciesielska-Klikowska Schiavon
• Assisted by: Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska (Editor), Tomasz Kamiński (Editor), Schiavon Jorge A. (Editor), Rafael Velázquez Flores (Editor)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 11.03.2026
• EAN: 9781032995090
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3299509-0
• No. of pages: 540
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Ethnic Studies, Sociology, POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Diplomacy, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / Local, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Political structures: democracy, Peace studies and conflict resolution, Political science and theory, International institutions, Human Geography, Peace studies & conflict resolution, Political structures / systems: democracy, Ethnic studies / Ethnicity, International institutions / intergovernmental organizations