Global Urban Diplomacy

Today, the spheres of influence of cities at the global level are gradually expanding, and cities that produce services and solutions for their citizens are becoming important actors in terms of peace, coexistence and good practices at the global level. In this context, local diplomacy has the potential to be used as a tool alongside national diplomacy. Moreover, local diplomacy can also be used as a tool when national diplomacy cannot be used from time to time. On the other hand, local diplomacy is of great importance in terms of developing communication and cooperation both with the places we are in contact with due to historical obligations and our geography of the heart, and with the countries we are in contact with from Europe to America, from Asia to Africa.

Although local governments are service-providing organizations at the local level, they are also important actors in developing relationships with stakeholders at the global level. Local governments also have the potential to play a leading role in the process of transferring issues of national importance abroad. In this context, it is important to increase social benefits by developing cooperation between local governments and cities at the local level. It should also be noted that the practice of local diplomacy facilitates the work of our citizens living abroad by providing a way out in times of crisis. However, considering the problems we have experienced in recent years with countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, it is clear that local diplomacy, which is an important tool, cannot be used effectively to solve the problems of our citizens living in these countries.

Objectives

The aim is to create a common “local diplomacy strategy” by taking into account different experiences and bringing together different actors in Turkiye.

Developing political, social and cultural relations,

Utilizing tourism potential as a tool for urban development,

Making life easier for our citizens living abroad,

Evaluating mutual investment opportunities,

Promoting foreign direct investment in Turkiye,

Sharing the experience of local government.

Importance and Rationale

Cities that provide services and solutions to their citizens are also important actors for peace, coexistence and best practices at the global level. Contributing to the promotion of the country through strategic cultural and economic cooperation and branding our cities as centers of attraction will contribute to local development. In this way, local diplomacy can become a financial as well as a cultural tool. In this regard, it is of great importance to maintain relations between cities through local diplomacy even in times of crisis.

Target Audience

Local governments, central government institutions involved in diplomacy, the private sector, civil society organizations, international stakeholders, academics, researchers and other city actors.

Methodology and Implementation Steps

First, meetings and workshops will be held with the city’s stakeholders at the national and local levels to identify the needs and demands in the field of local diplomacy. Efforts will be made to establish an effective local diplomacy practice with contributions from local government representatives in practice and academics and experts in theory. Following these studies, a national “local diplomacy strategy document” and an appropriate directive/legislation on objectives and activity plans will be developed for local governments to carry out a common communication and activity policy in the context of international relations.

Dissemination of Workshop Results

Public presentations and meetings will be held, the results will be transformed into publications, and the resulting report will be shared with local governments, relevant ministries, and stakeholders.