Debora Prado compares climate governance and paradiplomacy in Brazil and Germany, arguing that Germany’s institutionalized federal system enables stronger coordination between national and subnational governments. In contrast, Brazil’s federal government retains a monopoly over foreign affairs, leaving states and cities to pursue international climate action through informal, often uncoordinated arrangements. This creates policy instability, particularly…

After three weeks of fieldwork across Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai, Anna Shpakovskaya explored how China is reshaping its urban future. Her research focuses on city diplomacy and the rise of city clusters—multi-city agglomerations now central to China’s high-quality urban development strategy. Experts highlighted two dynamics: strong top-down policy design and intense competition among…