The Increasing Relevance of Paradiplomacy in Federal Systems

Volume 13 , April 2025 , Pages 701-716

Authors

AGUIRRE TORRES, JOSE ENRIQUE 1

1 ITESO University, Guadalajara, Mexico

DOI logo 10.17656/jlps.10319

Keywords

Abstract

This paper explores the evolving relationship between paradiplomacy and federalism, analyzing the mechanisms through which subnational governments engage in international affairs and their implications for national sovereignty and governance. Federalism provides the institutional framework that allows subnational entities—such as states, provinces, and regions—to conduct international activities in various domains, including trade, climate policy, and cultural diplomacy. While some federal systems, like those of Canada and Belgium, facilitate subnational international engagement, others, such as the United States and Mexico, impose constitutional constraints that shape alternative strategies for subnational diplomacy.

Through an examination of three case studies—California, Quebec, and Wallonia— this study highlights the diverse approaches to paradiplomacy in different federal contexts. The findings reveal that paradiplomacy enhances subnational agency in global governance while simultaneously challenging national foreign policy coherence. While some scholars view paradiplomacy as a strengthening force within federalism, allowing decentralized participation in global affairs, others warn of potential fragmentation and inconsistency in national diplomatic strategies. This study underscores the growing relevance of paradiplomacy in an era of multi-level governance, where global challenges—such as climate change, trade regulation, and technological governance—require flexible, decentralized, and multi-stakeholder solutions.

Keywords: paradiplomacy, federalism, multi-level governance, subnational diplomacy, globalization

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  • First online25 April 2025
  • Published at25 April 2025

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