City Diplomacy and the European Union Policy towards China (Routledge Studies on Paradiplomacy and City Diplomacy)

This book explores the increasingly significant role of cities as actors in the European Union’s foreign policy, with a particular focus on EU-China relations.Analysing theoretical foundations, empirical data, and a survey of 745 cities, the authors provide unparalleled insights into the practices, challenges, and transformative potential of city diplomacy through its networks, partnerships, and direct engagement with global challenges. Examining approaches across cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lodz, Linz, Duisburg, Ostrów Wielkopolski, and Dietzenbach - the methodological approach captures the complexity and variety of urban diplomatic practices to explore the factors influencing city diplomacy and address critical questions central to understanding its role in contemporary international relations.Considering how cities shape and influence EU foreign policy, the authors investigate how the size of a city affects its capacity for international cooperation and how collaboration wi