Cities as International Actors

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Cities Joining States as International Actors

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 1-22

3. Cities and the Global Arena—From Connectors to Actors: The Questions of Space and Territory

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 23-49

4. Cities and the Changing Nature of International Governance

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 51-106

5. Expansion and Activities of Networks of Sub-National Governments

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 107-132

6. Individual Initiatives by Cities in Europe

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 133-183

7. Cities and Internationality in North America and Beyond

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 185-238

8. Conclusions: Towards Closing the Conceptual Gap?

   • Tassilo Herrschel, Peter Newman

   Pages 239-246

9. Back Matter

   Pages 247-260

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This book explores the growing role of cities and regions as sub-national actors in shaping global governance. Far from being merely carried along by global forces, cities have become active players in making and maintaining the networks and connections that give shape to contemporary globalization. Exploring examples from Europe, North America and beyond, the authors reconcile the two separate, yet complimentary, theoretical and analytical lenses adopted by Urban Studies and International Relations, as they address the nature of ‘cities’ and ‘internationality’. The authors challenge academic debate that is reluctant to cross disciplinary boundaries and thus offer more relevant answers to the new phenomenon of international city action, and how it weakens the traditional prerogative of the state as primary actor in the international realm. Conclusions focus on how this new internationality opens opportunities for cities and regions but also contains potential pitfalls that can constrain policy options and challenge the legitimacy of policy making at all scales.

• State-centric internationality
• Multi-level governance
• International urban action
• Internationalisation
• Mono-lateral international engagement
• City-to-city pairing
• Europe
• North America
• Network-based action
• National League of Cities (NLC)
• US Conference of Mayors
• Global Cities Initiative (GCI)
• Canada
• Cascadia

• University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

  Tassilo Herrschel

• University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

  Peter Newman

Tassilo Herrschel is Associate Professor (Reader) at the University of Westminster, UK. He has published widely on international comparative city-regional governance and economic policy in the context of globalisation. Tassilo is an Associate Fellow at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, and also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Regional Studies Association. Currently, he serves on the editorial board of European Urban and Regional Studies.


Peter Newman is Emeritus Professor at the University of Westminster, UK. His previous books have focussed on the governance and planning of cities and regions in Europe and on the particular challenges facing world cities.

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