Abstract
As liberal globalization declines and transnational challenges increase, the limitations of state-centric governance have become apparent, positioning city diplomacy as a vital strategic arena for local governments. For nations like Iran, which are strengthening their public diplomacy infrastructure, institutionalized engagement with city-based international organizations offers a complementary pathway to advance national and local interests while contributing to global policy processes. This article examines the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the world's largest municipal network, to understand its mechanisms and explore how Iranian cities can effectively leverage this platform for public diplomacy, knowledge acquisition, and influence on global urban policy.
Employing a qualitative case study and thematic analysis of 27 official UCLG documents (2015–2024), the study finds that UCLG operates as a "dual broker." It uses bottom-up mechanisms, networking, lobbying, and knowledge production, to shape intergovernmental agendas, and top-down strategies, localization, interpretation, and capacity-building, to facilitate local implementation of global frameworks. These two dimensions function in a mutually reinforcing feedback loop, sustaining the organization's legitimacy and effectiveness.
Realizing the full potential of such organizations requires Iranian policymakers, municipal officials, and public diplomacy authorities to systematically address prerequisites for purposeful engagement. Key among these is the decentralization of city diplomacy authority to municipalities, coupled with streamlined processes, while maintaining national coordination and strategic guidance. Specific recommendations include establishing a national coordination mechanism, developing specialized international affairs units in major municipalities, and shifting from symbolic to substantive participation in UCLG and its regional sections. This study contributes to the literature on city diplomacy and multi-level governance by demonstrating how institutionalized urban networks can complement conventional foreign policy, offering practical pathways for developing nations to expand global engagement while safeguarding their distinctive local values and interests.