"We explore how municipal partnerships blend citizen and city diplomacy to foster international cooperation."
Dr. Scott Harrison
Connecting Histories, Shaping Futures
"We explore how municipal partnerships blend citizen and city diplomacy to foster international cooperation."
Dr. Scott Harrison
Connecting Histories, Shaping Futures
Scott Harrison and Quinton Huang have dedicated years to studying global municipal twinning in Asia and the intersection of Canada-Asia Pacific city twinning. Their work delves into the core reasons for forming these networks and their outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks. Harrison and Huang question whether twinning is a charming yet obsolete concept or a practical modern strategy for enhancing Canada-Asia and international relations overall.
Scott Harrison and Quinton Huang have dedicated years to studying global municipal twinning in Asia and the intersection of Canada-Asia Pacific city twinning. Their work delves into the core reasons for forming these networks and their outcomes, benefits, and drawbacks. Harrison and Huang question whether twinning is a charming yet obsolete concept or a practical modern strategy for enhancing Canada-Asia and international relations overall.
Key Insights
Since their early origins during the Cold War, municipalities worldwide have fostered relationships through twinning initiatives, commonly referred to as sister cities or friendship cities, to establish cultural connections and business ties while promoting educational exchange. Creating and sustaining these relationships necessitates both official city engagement and citizen involvement.
The findings are based on 18 interviews with officials and members of civil society involved in Canadian twinning relations with China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Using examples from Canada-Asia city twinning, this article explores how cities and citizens collaborate and how they can improve. The insights gained will inspire new methods for designing and implementing twinning relationships, enhancing the collaboration between cities and everyday citizens.
Key Insights
Since their early origins during the Cold War, municipalities worldwide have fostered relationships through twinning initiatives, commonly referred to as sister cities or friendship cities, to establish cultural connections and business ties while promoting educational exchange. Creating and sustaining these relationships necessitates both official city engagement and citizen involvement.
The findings are based on 18 interviews with officials and members of civil society involved in Canadian twinning relations with China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Using examples from Canada-Asia city twinning, this article explores how cities and citizens collaborate and how they can improve. The insights gained will inspire new methods for designing and implementing twinning relationships, enhancing the collaboration between cities and everyday citizens.
View Article
We worked on data collection, interviews, and background research while seeking an appropriate venue. Having our pitch accepted for potential inclusion in a special edition of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy on Engaging Home in International Diplomacy compelled us to transition from raw data and concepts to articulating our findings in less than 4,000 words within a few months. The editors facilitated a smooth and supportive process through blind peer review, revisions, and ultimately, publication.
Scott Michael Harrison and Quinton Huang. “Citizen or City Diplomacy? Diplomatic Co-Production and the Middle Ground in Municipal Twinning Relationships.” The Hague Journal of Diplomacy Vol. 17, no. 4 (2022): 664-668.
View Article
We worked on data collection, interviews, and background research while seeking an appropriate venue. Having our pitch accepted for potential inclusion in a special edition of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy on Engaging Home in International Diplomacy compelled us to transition from raw data and concepts to articulating our findings in less than 4,000 words within a few months. The editors facilitated a smooth and supportive process through blind peer review, revisions, and ultimately, publication.
Scott Michael Harrison and Quinton Huang. “Citizen or City Diplomacy? Diplomatic Co-Production and the Middle Ground in Municipal Twinning Relationships.” The Hague Journal of Diplomacy Vol. 17, no. 4 (2022): 664-668.
Latest projects
Asia/Indo-Pacific
Japan-Canada Research and Policy Network
Exploring new horizons in trade, diplomacy, media and innovation
Asia/Indo-Pacific
Japan-Canada Research and Policy Network
Exploring new horizons in trade, diplomacy, media and innovation
Indigenous Internationalism
Indigenous Reconciliation in Canada, Taiwan, and Japan
Cross-Pacific Indigenous connections, cultural revitalization, policy reform, and pathways to justice
Indigenous Internationalism
Indigenous Reconciliation in Canada, Taiwan, and Japan
Cross-Pacific Indigenous connections, cultural revitalization, policy reform, and pathways to justice
Latest projects
Asia/Indo-Pacific
Japan-Canada Research and Policy Network
Exploring new horizons in trade, diplomacy, media and innovation
Indigenous Internationalism
Indigenous Reconciliation in Canada, Taiwan, and Japan
Cross-Pacific Indigenous connections, cultural revitalization, policy reform, and pathways to justice
