The rise of city diplomats
For a little over a century, cities around the world have been progressively building their own capacity to act internationally, to the point of profoundly impacting world politics. Yet, the role of city diplomats remains relatively unknown.
This webinar offers a conversation with four distinguished city diplomats from Bogota, London, New York and Paris:
- Penny Abeywardena, New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs
- Leah Kreitzman, London’s Mayoral Director for External and International Affairs
- Andrea Laverde, Bogotá’s Deputy Director of the International Projection of the City
- Paul-David Régnier, Paris’ Head of International Relations Department
The discussion is chaired by Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Lecturer at PSIA and Columbia University in Paris, co-founder of Urban Flag, and author of City Diplomacy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). He is assisted by Aliénor de Thoisy, Sciences Po student, who facilitates the Q&A.
This discussion is part of the Reimagining Cities series, co-organized by Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs, Columbia Undergraduate Programs in Paris, and Columbia Global Centers | Paris. Co-sponsored by the Alliance Program and Urban Flag.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Reimagining cities. Exploring global trends towards a new (urban) normal.
Hit hard by what was revealed to be primarily an urban pandemic, cities across the world have been harnessing the potential of their proximity with residents, the private sector, and civil society to deploy rapid, innovative, and cost-effective solutions. Most of this innovation is likely to continue as part of a broader movement led by numerous mayors committed to boldly re-direct urban development towards environmental sustainability, social equality, and resilience.
Designed by Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, instructor of City Diplomacy at Sciences Po – PSIA, the École Polytechnique, and Columbia in Paris, this conference series aims at engaging distinguished mayors, scholars, practitioners, and students in a global discussion on the future of urban life in a post-pandemic world.