Localizing Foreign Policy: Non-Central Governments and Multilayered Diplomacy - Softcover

Hocking, B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1349229652 ISBN 13: 9781349229659

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 1993

Synopsis

Accompanying the oft-noted globalisation of international relations, there is an equally significant trend towards 'localisation' as a range of subnational constituencies and the authorities that represent them respond to externally-generated pressures on the one hand, and seek to exploit enhanced opportunities to operate in the international arena on the other. The book examines these developments in the context of the growing international involvement of the non-central governments within federal states. Employing a number of case studies, it argues that the significance of these developments can best be understood as one facet of an increasingly complex, multilayered, diplomacy as national policy makers are forced to negotiate simultaneously with domestic and foreign interests in the pursuit of policy objectives.

About this title

From the Back Cover

During the 1980s increasing attention was given to the growing international activities of the constituent governments within federal systems. To the often dramatic conflicts represented by Quebec's attempts to establish an international 'voice' alongside that of the Canadian federal government were added the quieter, but no less significant, forays into foreign economic policy by, amongst others, the US and Australian state governments and the German Lander. There has been a strong inclination amongst observers of these trends to view them as marking dramatic changes in the character of international relations - perhaps, even, the demise of national governments as power passes to lower levels of political authority. Consequently, the emphasis has been on conflict between central and non-central governments regarding the conduct of foreign relations. A more balanced picture can be constructed, however, by viewing the international activities of non-central governments (NCGs) as one element in an increasingly complex multilayered diplomatic environment wherein policy-makers seek to negotiate simultaneously with domestic as well as foreign interests. By examining, for example, the role of the US states and the Canadian provinces during the Canada-US free trade negotiations, it can be seen that NCGs are capable of performing a diversity of roles at different stages of the diplomatic cycle. Whilst they can be obstacles to the achievement of foreign-policy goals by national governments, they can also act as agents and allies in attaining objectives.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1349229652
• ISBN 13: 9781349229659
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 254