The prominent role of cities in the economy and society is beyond dispute. In the political arena and in diplomatic relations, cities—especially city networks—are increasingly playing a decisively important role. The emergence of power factors alongside nation states has resulted in the vertical fragmentation of national foreign policy, and international organizations are seeking to gain a seat at the table of global diplomacy. In our research, we examine transnational thematic networks that use city diplomacy based on the practice of so-called soft power to address global challenges more effectively at the local level, yet on the global stage.
In this study, we present in detail a challenge that is constantly present on the political and social agenda of cities: health awareness and the issue of healthy cities. The analysis confirms that belonging to the network results in a different, autonomous policy focus compared to national standards. Using cluster analysis of cities, we confirm the flexible, strategic compensatory role of membership: the city belonging to the most dynamic cluster complements innovation with a focus on health, while cities with cyclical development gain diplomatic reputation through transnational resilience and fairness, compensating for their economic disadvantages.
Through multilateral diplomacy legitimized by the city network, we argue that cities are able to view challenges affecting their liveability as transformative opportunities.
Keywords: city diplomacy, transnational networks, city networks, liveability, cooperation, resilience
