Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Some of today's most pressing global governance challenges, from the climate crisis to collapsing biodiversity and pressing pandemic threats, have very tangible implications on our streets. Cities have not been standing idle, and a busy realm of "city diplomacy" has emerged in the past three decades across a wide variety of geopolitical areas. From United Nations agencies and frameworks, major businesses, academia and not least a growing cast of states, the role of cities in tackling shared international challenges is a key dimension all diplomats and policymakers need to grasp rapidly in an increasingly urbanised world. Building on a review of how the world of cities' international affairs has evolved and on how multilateral, non-governmental and state actors have engaged with it, Professor Michele Acuto will outline key recent innovations, practical ways in which city diplomacy and international urban cooperation initiatives are presenting effective innovations in international relations, and led a discussion as to why we need to care about our local mayors, and how we can and should build better 'urban' expertise at all level of foreign policymaking. Anyone is welcome to register!
Some of today's most pressing global governance challenges, from the climate crisis to collapsing biodiversity and pressing pandemic threats, have very tangible implications on our streets. Cities have not been standing idle, and a busy realm of "city diplomacy" has emerged in the past three decades across a wide variety of geopolitical areas. From United Nations agencies and frameworks, major businesses, academia and not least a growing cast of states, the role of cities in tackling shared international challenges is a key dimension all diplomats and policymakers need to grasp rapidly in an increasingly urbanised world. Building on a review of how the world of cities' international affairs has evolved and on how multilateral, non-governmental and state actors have engaged with it, Professor Michele Acuto will outline key recent innovations, practical ways in which city diplomacy and international urban cooperation initiatives are presenting effective innovations in international relations, and led a discussion as to why we need to care about our local mayors, and how we can and should build better 'urban' expertise at all level of foreign policymaking. Anyone is welcome to register!
