ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews debates on the political agency of a city at the international and global scale, mostly dealt with in political science and international relations. The conceptualization of the political agency of cities rests on the empirical observation that cities have an 'active presence' in world politics, international affairs and global governance. Despite the focus on cities' international activities there is little theorization of the international city political agency. The chapter analyses the Johannesburg International Relations Strategy released by the metropolitan government in 2012. In Johannesburg, international activities were initially conducted as part of a 'policy of municipal international relations' adopted by the central government in 1999. Local governments can develop international relations under two conditions: they must help achieve the objectives fixed to them by the constitution; and they must be implemented in collaboration with the other various spheres of government.
