Localizing foreign policy? Subnational governments and civil society mobilization to recognize and prevent mass-atrocities
Short description
This research project examines municipalities and regions as arenas for foreign policy issues. Foreign policy is often seen as a matter for national-level actors. However, in today's globalised world and multicultural societies, such matters are also on the agenda of municipalities and regions. The project has a special focus on issues related to the recognition and commemoration of genocide and city initiatives against nuclear arms, but it also investigates subnational foreign relations more broadly. What opportunities exist for citizens and local politicians to pursue issues that affect them but may be regarded as foreign policy? And how can municipalities and states deal with the increasingly blurred boundaries between local, domestic and foreign policy?
About the project
In today’s globalized world, international relations are not performed only by national governments. Municipalities and regions increasingly form their own diplomatic links and act globally on issues like climate action, trade, investments and city-branding. This has been welcomed as a “democratization of foreign policy” but also raised concerns about overlaps and conflicts between government levels. The pursuit of foreign policy goals at subnational level can generate conflicts between community groups, political parties and tiers of government – and affect inter-state relations. While a vast literature has analyzed cities and other subnational governments as actors in international relations, less is known about the local dynamics and conflicts that arise when civil society and politicians challenge the presumed national-level monopoly of foreign policy.
Aim
The aim of this project is to analyze how foreign policy issues are pursued and navigated by civil society and political actors at the subnational government level.
It zooms in on issues related to the recognition and commemoration of genocide, and opposition to nuclear arms, but also considers other examples of subnational engagements in international relations. The project takes a global perspective, with a broad geographical scope, but particularly considers examples from Sweden and Norway.
The project traces the process of civil society and political mobilization and studies the motivation of activists and local politicians and the opportunities and constraints they experience and navigate. It also studies motivations and strategies of opponents, processes of legal contestation and reactions by national and international actors.
Method
A broad range of sources are used: media reports; bills, decisions and debates in subnational institutions; documentation of legal procedures; and civil society reports and campaign material. Interviews with local politicians, activists and others involved help to gain a deeper understanding of motivations, strategies and conflict dynamics.
Publications
- From the Ground Up: Belgian Cities' Quest for Peace
Quinissa Putrirezhy, blog post på forskarbloggen blogalstudies.com, 2025 - Städerna som utmanar i utrikespolitiken (in Swedish)
Camilla Orjuela i Utrikesmagasinet, 2026
