Paradiplomacy as nation-building: The politics of Scotland’s international development policy (1999–2022)

Abstract

Why do substate actors engage in foreign affairs even if endowed with limited formal powers? How are these activities institutionalised and legitimised? This article addresses these questions by examining a critical case: the rise of Scotland’s international development cooperation. The spotlight is put on the domestic sources of foreign policy formation. Our core argument is that the politics of nation-building underpins both the ambition and the increased distinctiveness of the Scottish approach to development. This nation-building effort is mainly reflected in the emergence of an assertive narrative: ‘Scotland as a good global citizen’. Another core insight is the strong articulation between domestic and international representations. The external projections of the Scottish Government mirror the domestic agenda. Our article places the striking Scottish case in analytical and comparative perspective.

Sub-state Actors in International Organizations: Analysis of Local Government Involvement and Influence

“…Unlike traditional state actors, sub-state actors may be local governments, cities, regional organizations, or non-central government entities. The introduction of this concept reflects a growing awareness of international actors' diversity in international relations (Dellepiane & Reinsberg, 2023).The autonomy of sub-state actors. In contrast to traditional sovereign states, sub-state actors have relatively independent decision-making and management powers in several areas (Dijkstra et al, 2023).…”