Explaining paradiplomacy: do local pro-international structures and political support matter?

Abstract

International governmental networks used to be centralized. However, the formal and informal decentralization of diplomatic relations through local governments and regions has placed the subnational governments as international actors. The subnational parallel pursuit of international relations has been termed paradiplomacy. Knowing “why or how” subnational governments engage in paradiplomacy is relevant because international networks have the potential to foster innovation, cooperation, transfer of knowledge, and international aid. However, not all jurisdictions engage in international relations despite the potential symbolic and material benefits. Scholars have explained local engagement in international relations through economic, cooperative, and political considerations. Without denying their explanatory power, we hypothesize that organizational structures, specifically local pro-international structures, foster paradiplomacy, while political support discourages paradiplomatic activities. To investigate subnational variation in paradiplomacy engagement, we rely on a survey covering all 5565 Brazilian municipalities in 2012. Findings suggest the existence of local pro-international structures is positively correlated with municipal international projects and municipal participation in international networks.