Cities as Public Diplomacy Actors

City administrations have become increasingly important international actors. This chapter explores the emergence city diplomacy and public diplomacy. Using their expertise from Europe and North America, Amiri and Kihlgren Grandi examine the neoliberal pivot within city diplomacy over the last 30 years arguing that, while opportunities for networking and investment may have improved, the ability of the city to act as an independent unit of foreign policy distinct from its parent state has been compromised. This is particularly important when it comes to the likelihood of cities to act morally on the international stage or simply to include moral principle within their outputs.