Making US MOIA Sustainable Institutions for Conducting City Diplomacy by Protecting Their Precarious Values

Abstract

The global role of nonstate and sub-state actors, from local businesses and diaspora groups to cities and municipalities, seems to be on the rise. Arguably, cities have legitimacy advantages over the nation-state and credibility advantages over the nonstate actors. This gives cities the “in-between” power to engage in global affairs. In the United States, the existing Mayor’s Offices of International Affairs (MOIA) exercise the “in-between” power of cities to advance the global interests of local constituents. MOIA are the only governmental organizations officially in charge of conducting foreign affairs on behalf of the cities in the United States. But how can US cities, through their MOIA, activate their in-between power more effectively to conduct international affairs? How can cities sustain the integrity and relevance of their Offices of International Relation? These are the questions addressed in this chapter by applying an analytical framework that is based on organizational theories and systems analysis. In other words, using organizational theory, this chapter explores how MOIA, as an element within the broader government system in the United States, could become more sustainable institutions that best serve as diplomatic actors on behalf of their constituents and in tandem with the Department of State.