Subnational Champion or Chief Cat Herder?
US appoints envoy in recognition of city and state diplomacy
In October 2022, the United States appointed Ambassador Nina Hachigian as the first-ever Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy. Hachigian, who previously served as the first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, is responsible for supporting U.S. interests “by integrating local ideas into foreign policy and fostering connections among cities, municipalities, and communities in the United States and abroad.” The role has sparked some chin-stroking about the reasons behind it and whether other federations, like Canada and Australia, should follow suit.
Over the past two decades, subnational governments in the US have become central players in international diplomacy. Many states have established well-resourced international departments, often complemented by a large number of foreign outposts.
While promoting trade and investment has been common practice, states and cities have ventured into areas of international policy traditionally the purview of the federal government, including climate change, immigration, and even security. For example, the Conference of Border Governors, which includes governors from the four US states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) and six Mexican states (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas), established a cross-border security working group. The group shares intelligence and coordinates law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other transnational crimes.
Sometimes, states even go rogue and take a stand against their own country's priorities, stirring up confusion and tension. For instance, when California signed a climate agreement with China in 2017, it raised eyebrows and concerns about the state's divergence from the Trump administration's stance on climate change.
So, what's the game plan here when it comes to subnational envoy Hachigian? Is the idea to amplify subnational priorities or to reign them in when the feds think it's necessary? The latter would speak to some naysayers who argue that the messy world of subnational diplomacy can damage national security and federalism. They point to China, and suggest that the CCP has been using its relationships with US states and cities to expand its influence and subvert the federal government’s efforts to isolate them.
However, to date, there is little evidence that Ambassador Hachigian is being used as a babysitter for diplomatic disruptors. Rather, her role has largely focused on promoting the importance of international relations in the United States and supporting the capacity of towns, cities and states to engage abroad - and who can argue with that?
Now, would this strategy work in other federations, such as Canada and Australia? There might be some raised eyebrows at first, but Canadian provinces and Australian states could potentially gain from having a dedicated point person for subnational foreign affairs. This new channel could streamline communications, encourage collaboration and help identify new avenues for promoting subnational priorities. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows—there are potential pitfalls like conflicting goals and political turf wars between national and subnational governments. Striking a balance between autonomy and a unified approach to foreign policy is key, as is building up subnational capabilities.
The US' decision to appoint a subnational foreign affairs envoy marks a major shift in how federations approach international relations. It's a nod to the power of cities and states in tackling global challenges and offers the support and coordination needed to make the most of their potential.
However, the success of this approach hinges on the ability of national and subnational governments to work together, share information, and maintain open lines of communication. By building a collaborative framework that fosters cooperation between different levels of government, federations can harness the collective strength of their subnational actors while preserving the integrity of their national foreign policies.