International relations and subnational actors: a study of international insertion of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas

Author(s)

Armando Gallo Yahn Filho

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
• Defense date: 2011-03-25

Examining board members

Shiguenoli Miyamoto; Paulo Cesar Souza Manduca; Suzeley Kalil Mathias; Gabriel Cepaluni; Karina Lilia Pasquariello Mariano

• Advisor: Shiguenoli Miyamoto

Abstract

The process of globalization which intensified during the 1990's has changed the dynamics of international relations. Despite the importance that national states still have in the international scenario, other actors began to gain ground, forming a network of complex interdependence that does not recognize national boundaries. And considering that the phenomena of a globalized world are perceived primarily at the local level, subnational governments began to assume an increasingly important role in seeking solutions to global issues and in expanding their competitive advantage. However, neither the localist theory, according to which subnational governments have their activities completely independently in pursuit their development, nor the globalist theory, according to which the states tend to disappear resulting in a global society without borders, is able to explain the international insertion of cities and regions. When we consider, jointly, the theory of rescaling of the state with the theory of multilevel governance, we can explain more consistently the international insertion of a city or region. After all, despite the importance of the role of local governments in pursuit of their development, including their paradiplomacy, it is essential the participation of other spheres of government, especially the federal government, which identifies the islands of development within its territory, making them the "new state spaces". Thus, we take as a case study the Metropolitan Region of Campinas to demonstrate how the international insertion of a region makes not only through a paradiplomacy, but also through a multilevel governance that goes beyond the limits of national territory, involving public and private, domestic and foreign actors. Our intention is also to point out the role that the Metropolitan Agency of Campinas and its Development Council may have in this international insertion, since they are the point of intersection of this multilevel governance (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/04493-8 - International relations and subnational governments: a study of international insertion of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas
• Grantee: Armando Gallo Yahn Filho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate