Resistance Paradiplomacy

In recent years, subnational governments have increasingly engaged in international actions that defy the positions of their national governments, especially in contexts where central authorities promote agendas contrary to the principles of the Liberal International Order (LIO). This chapter asks: how can we characterize the international actions of subnational governments that confront national governments opposed to the LIO? In response, it introduces and develops the concept of resistance paradiplomacy - a form of subnational engagement in global governance that aims to uphold liberal norms when they are undermined domestically. The chapter argues that resistance paradiplomacy constitutes a distinct category of paradiplomatic action. Methodologically, the chapter adopts a qualitative and comparative approach, drawing on illustrative cases from different regions, including Brazil, the United States, Central Europe, and Turkey, to explore how subnational governments strategically mobilize international platforms and partnerships to challenge reactionary state policies. By theorizing this emergent pattern, the chapter contributes to the growing body of literature that seeks to understand the evolving role of subnational actors in the international system and their impact on the resilience of liberal norms in times of democratic crisis.