Theory and Practice of Paradiplomacy: Subnational Governments in International Affairs

185 Pages·2014·1.2 MB·English

by  Alexander S Kuznetsov

Theory and Practice of
Paradiplomacy
This book examines and systematizes the theoretical dimensions of paradiplo-
macy – the role of subnational governments in international relations.
Throughout the world, subnational governments play an active role in inter-
national relations by participating in international trade, cultural missions and
diplomatic relations with foreign powers. These governments, including states in
the USA and Länder in Germany, can sometimes even challenge the official
foreign policy of their national government. These activities, which are regularly
promoting the subnational government’s interests, have been labelled as “para
diplomacy.” Through a systematization of the different approaches in under-
standing constituent diplomacy, the author constructs an integrative theoretical
explanatory framework to guide research on regional governments’ involvement
in international affairs.
The framework is based on a multiple-r esponse questionnaire technique
(MRQ) which provides the matrix of possible answers on a set of key questions
for paradiplomacy scholarship. This comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon
of paradiplomacy sheds light on the development of federalism and multi-l evel
governance in a new global environment and contributes to the debates on the
issue of “actorness” in contemporary international affairs.
This book will be of much interest to students of diplomacy, federalism, gov-
ernance, foreign policy and IR, as well as practitioners of diplomacy.
Alexander S. Kuznetsov is the Regional Manager (Europe) at the University of
Alberta, Canada and has a PhD in Political Systems and Institutional Change
from IMT, Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italy.
Routledge New Diplomacy Studies
Series Editors:
Corneliu Bjola
University of Oxford
and
Markus Kornprobst
Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
This new series will publish theoretically challenging and empirically author-
itative studies of the traditions, functions, paradigms and institutions of modern
diplomacy. Taking a comparative approach, the New Diplomacy Studies series
aims to advance research on international diplomacy, publishing innovative
accounts of how “old” and “new” diplomats help steer international conduct
between anarchy and hegemony, handle demands for international stability vs
international justice, facilitate transitions between international orders, and
address global governance challenges. Dedicated to the exchange of different
scholarly perspectives, the series aims to be a forum for inter-p aradigm and
inter- disciplinary debates, and an opportunity for dialogue between scholars and
practitioners.
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The urban link An interdisciplinary study of
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Steven J. Barela
Iran’s Nuclear Diplomacy
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Bernd Kaussler Paradiplomacy
Subnational governments in
Transatlantic Relations and Modern international affairs
Diplomacy Alexander S. Kuznetsov
An interdisciplinary examination
Edited by Sudeshna Roy,
Dana Cooper and Brian Murphy
Theory and Practice of
Paradiplomacy
Subnational governments in international
affairs
Alexander S. Kuznetsov
First published 2015
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2015 Alexander S. Kuznetsov
The right of Alexander S. Kuznetsov to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-i n-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is availa ble from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data
Kuznetsov, Alexander S.
Theory and practice of paradiplomacy : subnational governments in
international affairs / Alexander S. Kuznetsov.
pages cm. – (Routledge new diplomacy studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Subnational governments–Foreign relations. 2. State governments
and international relations. I. Title.
JZ4059.K89 2014
327–dc23 2014013869
ISBN: 978-0-415-73888-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-81708-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
To Sevan and Stepan
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Abbreviations ix
1 Introduction 1
2 Region and paradiplomacy: in search of definition 21
3 Paradiplomacy studies as a field of scholarly inquiry 34
4 The eleven dimensions of paradiplomacy discourse 50
5 Constructing an explanatory framework for the study of
subnational governments’ involvement in international
relations 100
6 The province of Alberta in international affairs: applying
the explanatory framework 120
7 Concluding remarks 153
Bibliography 158
Index 169
Acknowledgments
There are a number of people who contributed to my work on this book and for
whom I would like to express my words of appreciation. First of all I am grateful
for IMT, Institute for Advanced Studies for the financial support. The institute
provided me with scholarships which allowed me to concentrate on my research
as well as to go to Canada for my fieldwork at the University of Alberta. I am
grateful for the Political Systems and Institutional Change program coordinator
Prof. Giovanni Orsina who was always supportive and helpful in all matters. I
am really appreciative of my PhD dissertation committee and particularly of
Prof. Luis Moreno.
I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Luciano Bardi who assisted me
significantly in all my extracurricular academic activities. I am grateful for Prof.
Antonio Masala who not only helped me in my studies but for my three years’
stay in Italy became my good friend. I would like to express my appreciation to
Prof. Earl Fry whose scholarship had a strong impact on the choice of my
research focus in political science. I must also mention the contribution to my
work of Prof. Viktor Zaslavsky and Prof. Robert Huber, who unfortunately both
passed away recently, but the memory of their kindness and encouragement will
stay alive in my mind forever.
I thank all my IMT colleagues with whom I spent thousands of hours in
scholarly discussions as well as enjoying Italian “dolce vita.”
Finally, I would like to say “bolshoie spasibo” and “shat shnorhakal em” to
my big family who trusted in me. My parents and my parents-i n-law as well as
my lovely younger sisters who were supportive in all matters; their words of
wisdom and love helped me a lot. A special acknowledgement I dedicate to my
babushka whose infinite love and care made me who I am. And of course the
work on this book could not be possible without my dearly beloved wife Sevan
and son Stepan. They are my main source of inspiration for moving forward in
all my beginnings.
Abbreviations
AER Assembly of European Regions
BNA act British North Amer ican act
CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
COR Committee of the Regions
CPSU Communist Party of the Soviet Union
CUSFTA Canada- United States Free Trade Agreement
EU European Union
FDI Foreign Direct Investments
fsQCA fuzzy- set Qualitative Comparative Analysis
GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GDP Gross Domestic Product
KKV Gary King, Robert Keohane and Sydney Verba
MABAC Montana Alberta Bilateral Advisory Council
MIIR Ministry of International and Intergovernmental Relations
MNC Multinational Corporation
MNT Multilateral Trade Negotiations
MRQ Multiple Response Questionnaire
NAFTA North Amer ican Free Trade Agreement
NCG Non- Central Governments
NDP New Democratic Party
NEG- ECP Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian
Premiers
NEP National Energy Program
NGO Non- Governmental Organization
NRDC National Resources Defense Council
nrg4SD Network of Regional Governments for Sustaina ble Development
PC Progressive Conservatives
PNWER Pacific North- West Economic Region
UN United Nations
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USA United States of America
USSR Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics
WCS Western Canadian Select