While diplomacy is traditionally regarded as an activity exclusive to nation-states and their governments, cities have recently made big inroads in this area, especially as global migration governance is concerned. To learn more about this development and its theorization, Moritz Baumgärtel talks to Dr. Janina Stürner-Siovitz, a research fellow at the Friedrich-Alexander-University in Erlangen, Germany. The interview begins with a discussion on the “city migration governance paradox” to then set out what observations can be made about city diplomacy based on role theory. In doing so, it covers the different (and often not-so-different) roles that local authorities currently perform at the global stage, the issue of the representativeness of such actions, and how they are linked to the policies taken by national governments and international organizations.

For some of Janina Stürner-Siovitz's recent work, check the most recent edition of the Trialog journal and the upcoming issue of the Journal of International Affairs, as well as Petra Bendel and others, "When Mayors Make Migration Policy’: The future of city diplomacy", EPC Policy Brief June 2021.

This episode was produced with the assistance of Sithis Yim Samnang.