The international activity of cities as an instrument to promote local development: the cases of the municipal departments of international relations of São Paulo and Guarulhos

• Grant number: 12/08056-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Regina Claudia Laisner
• Grantee: Marina Morais de Andrade
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais (FCHS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Franca. Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

At the end of the Cold War, the processes of globalization and regional integration were intensified, creating a strong incentive for the international activity of cities. Moreover, in a context of loss of capacity to promote the development by States, cities around the world began to emerge as national political actors, responsible for the local development. In Brazil, it is increasingly apparent the external performance of cities as an alternative to a decreased ability of the federal government to meet local demands. This project intends to study this process, from the viewpoint of International Relations, focusing on the inclusion of the cities in the International System, known in the literature as a phenomenon "part diplomatic" by analyzing the performance of the Municipal Departments of International Relations (SMRI's). As an instrument of analysis were chosen the cases of Sao Paulo (SP) and Guarulhos (SP), in order to observe the profile of the projects adopted in each of these Departments and their impacts. The main goal is to understand the extent of commitment to the development of cities, observed from the perspective of Amartya Sen, as the expansion of capacities of the population and the instrumental liberties. This goal will be achieved with theoretical studies that will support the proposal, linked to empirical information based on materials provided by the City Hall, interviews with government employees, and institutional visits.(AU)