Routledge Handbook of Paradiplomacy

This handbook provides an innovative, comprehensive, and authoritative examination of how subnational governments, regions, and municipalities participate in and shape the field of International Relations (IR).

Covering the conceptual, theoretical, methodological, institutional, and practical dimensions of paradiplomacy, it is divided into five parts. Part I focuses on paradiplomacy as a distinct field of research, its conceptual evolution, and its theoretical foundations through classical and alternative theories of IR. Part II presents methodological approaches, including comparative, quantitative, qualitative, and legal studies, as well as multi-level and polycentric governance analyses. Part III examines institutional aspects, discussing the roles of regions, cities, networks, cross-border cooperation, protodiplomacy, identity, and substates’ involvement in international organizations. Part IV explores the intersection of paradiplomacy with public policy, covering topics such as environment, climate change, migration, urban management, culture, trade, finance, economic development, security, and decentralized international cooperation. Part V provides a detailed worldwide regional analysis, with case studies from Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa.

Offering a truly global perspective provided by experienced researchers from all over the world, this handbook will appeal to a broad audience, including scholars and students of International Relations, Urban and Regional Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Comparative Politics, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Governance, and Federalism.

Jorge A. Schiavon is Professor of International Relations in the International Studies Department, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, and a member of the National Researchers System (SNI), level III. He is Vice-President of the Consejo Mexicano de Estudios Internacionales (COMEXI) and Vice-President of the Centro de Enseñanza y Análisis sobre la Política Exterior de México (CESPEM). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs (UCSD), an M.A. in Political Science (UCSD), and a B.A. in International Relations (El Colegio de México). He was President of the Mexican International Studies Association (2011-2013), Secretary General (2004-2007) and Chair of the International Studies Department (2007–2010) at CIDE. He is author or editor of 37 academic books and 150+ articles and chapters.

Joanna Ciesielska-Klikowska, Ph.D., is a political scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Asian Studies, and a member of the Paradiplomacy Lab – Centre for Studies on Paradiplomacy and City Diplomacy at the University of Lodz, Poland. Her research focuses on EU-China relations, regional and municipal cooperation, city diplomacy, and Germany’s foreign policy toward China.

Tomasz Kaminski is Chair of the Paradiplomacy Lab – Centre for Studies on Paradiplomacy and City Diplomacy, and an associate professor at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz.

Rafael Velázquez Flores is a Professor of International Relations at the Faculty of Economics and International Relations (FEyRI), Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and a Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Miami. He was a fellow at the Center for Mexico-United States Studies, University of California, San Diego; held the Chair of Mexican Studies in the Fulbright Program at the University of New Mexico in 2024; and was president of the Mexican International Studies Association (AMEI). He is part of the National System of Researchers (SNI), level III; a regular member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences (AMC); and is currently president of the Center for Teaching and Analyzing Mexico’s Foreign Policy (CESPEM).