Unpacking soft power for cities: a theoretical approach

Recently, there has been a resurgence of cities asserting their presence in the international arena, from engaging in collaborations with global actors to address pressing challenges, to competing to attract investments, visitors, and residents. While existing studies in city diplomacy and city branding offer insights into some of these activities, they often fail to provide a comprehensive account for three main reasons: a lack of dialog between these two fields, activities of cities that transcend the boundaries of either fields, and a disregard for the linkages between nation-states and cities. This article proposes a framework aimed at clarifying the international activities of cities and their relationships with their respective home countries, drawing upon the concept of soft power. The framework has the potential to generate theoretical and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, it offers a more inclusive analytical lens suitable for integration into future comparative studies examining the international activities of cities. From a practical standpoint, it facilitates strategic planning and policymaking processes.