The American Governors in International Affairs

Abstract

The involvement of American governors in matters of international affairs has increased significantly since the 1950s. The two major factors accounting for this involvement are increased international economic interdependence and increased modernization of state governments. Gubernatorial involvement in international affairs is centered primarily around state needs to export products and attract foreign investment, though other foreign policy matters also attract gubernatorial attention. Governors promote state interests by lobbying the federal government through the intergovernmental system and by traveling abroad and otherwise establishing direct relations with foreign governments, usually equivalent or similar constituent governments of foreign nations.