Cities as Actors in International Relations

Cities, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Dubrovnik and Valletta, are emerging as influential actors in international relations, demonstrating capabilities in negotiation, humanitarian response, and policy innovation. A study analyzing these cities' roles during the COVID-19 pandemic found that they effectively reconciled goals of being thriving cruise ports, preserving their heritage status, and adopting smart city concepts through paradiplomatic strategies and international network engagement. This challenges traditional views of cities as mere administrative units under national control, positioning them as key participants in global governance.

Kos-Stanišić, L., & Luša, Đ. (2025). Cities as Actors in International Relations. The Art of Being Smart, 126–144. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003600466-7