US States and Governors in Foreign Relations

Abstract

This chapter describes how governors participate in American foreign relations, generally defined, and attempts to explain why governors seek to voice their views and to play an active role in working with foreign leaders and issues beyond their borders. Kline (1996) says scholars need to devise ways in which to look at both the institutional mechanisms of American federalism as well as those institutions and powers that aid governors in international affairs. This chapter overviews the primary governmental and nongovernmental actors related to US states and governors’ international engagement and describes governors’ activities as they are broken down into the three primary categories: foreign (political) relations, international economic relations, and national security activities. This discussion provides the introduction before hypotheses regarding governors’ foreign relations activities can be presented and tested in chapter 7.