University Paradiplomacy as an Aid to Municipal Paradiplomacy from a Governance Perspective

Abstract

Sister city agreements are the most utilized instrument of decentralized cooperation by local governments. Evidence suggests that they are often of little practical use. The management and implementation of twinning agreements by twenty municipal governments in Guanajuato and Oaxaca, Mexico, is analyzed through a questionnaire. The results show that they are given low priority and attention by municipal governments. It is suggested that based on the governance model proposed by Hufty, university paradiplomacy could contribute to better management and implementation of twinning agreements.