Paradiplomacy and Culture

At the turn of the 21st century, the sustainability debate highlighted the importance of diverse actors and territorial analyses. In this context, Hawkes proposed culture as the fourth pillar of sustainability, alongside social, economic, and environmental aspects. UCLG embraced this concept as a key strategy to enhance the external action of territorial entities, with culture playing a pivotal role in their global positioning. This approach not only contributed to strengthening the cultural identity of the territories but also generated new dynamics related to the positioning of local artists, territorial attractiveness and the valorisation of the cultural assets of each jurisdiction. Importantly, when viewed from a sub-national perspective, culture serves as a catalyst for intercultural dialogues and the development of agendas oriented towards the circulation, consumption and promotion of cultural assets in the global sphere, significantly impacting the international arena. The chapter primarily focuses on how culture, as a key element in the external action of local governments, strengthens territorial development and improves territorial entities’ positioning in the international arena.