Diplomacy
However, this role is still relatively new for many stakeholders in cities, as well as for most traditional foreign policy institutions.
Some national governments now recognize the value of understanding and supporting the international engagement of cities and have established units or departments for city diplomacy, such as the recently created Department of City and State Diplomacy in the U.S. Foreign Ministry. Nevertheless, the understanding of what city diplomacy entails, the different approaches of cities and national governments, and the most effective mechanisms for this multi-level coordination are not yet clearly defined or widely established.
This virtual workshop brought together practitioners, experts, and academics to explore and further develop common definitions of city diplomacy, areas for improved multi-level coordination, and approaches to institutionalizing the role of cities in foreign policy.
The workshop included numerous surveys in which participants were asked about their views on cities and foreign policy.
The complete evaluation of the workshop can be found here: Summary_Urban_Diplomacy_Dortmund
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF)
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a U.S. foundation dedicated to promoting transatlantic relations in politics, economics, and society. The think tank, based in Washington, D.C., has 160 employees, with Heather A. Conley serving as its director. This foundation is consulted and supported, in particular, by the German, American, and EU governments.
