Cities in International Decision-Making: The Impact of European Cities on International Law and Relations

With illustrative case studies on international organizations and transnational city networks across Europe, this innovative book argues that cities are becoming more active participants in international law-making and challenging the previously dominant nation-state approach of recent history.

Chapters explore key literature and legal regulations surrounding cities, providing the latest information on their international normative activities. This book includes multiple interviews conducted with the official representatives of cities and various international institutions, such as UN-Habitat, the EU Committee of the Regions, and the Congress for Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The authors investigate how, despite their strong role in international relations and international law implementation, the importance of cities has still not been adequately reflected in the structures of the Council of Europe, the EU and the UN. Ultimately, the book finds that cities have more impact on policy-making than on decision-making processes.

Cities in International Decision-Making is a rich resource for academics and students of international relations, political science, international law and urban studies. It is also a beneficial read for city authorities, policy-makers, external experts and think-tank analysts.