"Rethinking diplomatic relationships beyond traditional state actors through the lens of the democratic diplomatic middle ground."
Dr. Scott Harrison
Connecting Histories, Shaping Futures
"Rethinking diplomatic relationships beyond traditional state actors through the lens of the democratic diplomatic middle ground."
Dr. Scott Harrison
Connecting Histories, Shaping Futures
When we think about diplomacy, we typically picture presidents and prime ministers, embassies, foreign ministries, and international summits. However, there are many other forms of diplomacy. Dr. Scott Harrison and Quinton Huang collaborated on this project to explore how and why non-central government actors, including cities, local governments, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples, are reshaping international relations alongside traditional diplomatic channels. We introduce the concept of “democratic diplomatic middle grounds” - a shared space where national governments interact with local governments, community organizations and Indigenous Peoples to engage in diplomacy and create and shape international relationships.
When we think about diplomacy, we typically picture presidents and prime ministers, embassies, foreign ministries, and international summits. However, there are many other forms of diplomacy. Dr. Scott Harrison and Quinton Huang collaborated on this project to explore how and why non-central government actors, including cities, local governments, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples, are reshaping international relations alongside traditional diplomatic channels. We introduce the concept of “democratic diplomatic middle grounds” - a shared space where national governments interact with local governments, community organizations and Indigenous Peoples to engage in diplomacy and create and shape international relationships.
Key Insights
Using Canada-Asia sister city partnerships (i.e. twinning relationships) as a starting point, we demonstrate how these diverse stakeholders and partners collectively shape diplomatic identities and capacities. This framework helps explain how local governments, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples actively influence international relations.
Our analysis extends to traditional diplomacy as well, revealing how non-state actors transform interstate relations and international organizations. This research offers both a theoretical framework and a practical model for supporting more collaborative, inclusive and effective international diplomacy and policies across all levels of government.
Key Insights
Using Canada-Asia sister city partnerships (i.e. twinning relationships) as a starting point, we demonstrate how these diverse stakeholders and partners collectively shape diplomatic identities and capacities. This framework helps explain how local governments, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples actively influence international relations.
Our analysis extends to traditional diplomacy as well, revealing how non-state actors transform interstate relations and international organizations. This research offers both a theoretical framework and a practical model for supporting more collaborative, inclusive and effective international diplomacy and policies across all levels of government.
View Article
This chapter is a significantly expanded and revised version of our article “Citizen or City Diplomacy?” It is one of eleven chapters in an edited volume dedicated to exploring home engagement in diplomacy from the perspective of academics and expert practitioners from around the world.
Introduction by Jan Melissen, HwaJung Kim, and Githma Chandrasekekara Chapter 1: Theorizing and Debating the Domestic Deficit in IR and Diplomatic Studies by Jan Melissen and Githma Chandrasekara Chapter 2: Citizens as Problems or Resources: Power, Diplomacy, and the Contested Voice of the Nation by César Jiménez-Martínez Chapter 3: The Evolution of Domestic Public Diplomacy in Germany: Engaging the ‘Public’ at Home on Foreign and Security Policy Since 1990 by Christian Opitz, Hanna Pfeifer, and Anna Geis Chapter 4: Home Diplomacy Across Borders: Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy in France by Christian Lequesne Chapter 5: Social Legitimacy, State–Society Relations and Non-State Actor Diplomacy in Japan by Toahiya Takahashi Chapter 6: The Disintegration of State-Society Relations and Its Moderating Effects on Japanese Diplomacy toward China by Yun Zhang Chapter 7: Diplomacy and People: Contrasting Cases of the Two Koreas’ People-Empowerment Approaches to Diplomacy by HwaJung Kim Chapter 8: Engaging Citizens in a Polarised Society: The Choices for US Diplomacy by Geoffrey Wiseman and Allison Scott Chapter 9: Democratic Diplomatic Middle Grounds: Theorising and Expanding the Role of Domestic Societies in Paradiplomatic Relations by Scott Michael Harrison and Quinton Huang Chapter 10: The Benefits and Pitfalls of Engaging Youth in Diplomatic Affairs: A Case Study of the Junior Diplomat Initiative by Štěpánka Zemanová Chapter 11: Concluding Reflections by Andrew F. Cooper Harrison, Scott Michael and Quinton Huang. “Chapter 9 Democratic Diplomatic Middle Grounds: Theorising and Expanding the Role of Domestic Societies in Paradiplomatic Relations.” In Home Engagement in Diplomacy: Global Affairs and Domestic Publics. Edited by Jan Melissen, HwaJung Kim, and Githma Chandrasekara. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2026.
View Article
This chapter is a significantly expanded and revised version of our article “Citizen or City Diplomacy?” It is one of eleven chapters in an edited volume dedicated to exploring home engagement in diplomacy from the perspective of academics and expert practitioners from around the world.
Introduction by Jan Melissen, HwaJung Kim, and Githma Chandrasekekara Chapter 1: Theorizing and Debating the Domestic Deficit in IR and Diplomatic Studies by Jan Melissen and Githma Chandrasekara Chapter 2: Citizens as Problems or Resources: Power, Diplomacy, and the Contested Voice of the Nation by César Jiménez-Martínez Chapter 3: The Evolution of Domestic Public Diplomacy in Germany: Engaging the ‘Public’ at Home on Foreign and Security Policy Since 1990 by Christian Opitz, Hanna Pfeifer, and Anna Geis Chapter 4: Home Diplomacy Across Borders: Consular and Diaspora Diplomacy in France by Christian Lequesne Chapter 5: Social Legitimacy, State–Society Relations and Non-State Actor Diplomacy in Japan by Toahiya Takahashi Chapter 6: The Disintegration of State-Society Relations and Its Moderating Effects on Japanese Diplomacy toward China by Yun Zhang Chapter 7: Diplomacy and People: Contrasting Cases of the Two Koreas’ People-Empowerment Approaches to Diplomacy by HwaJung Kim Chapter 8: Engaging Citizens in a Polarised Society: The Choices for US Diplomacy by Geoffrey Wiseman and Allison Scott Chapter 9: Democratic Diplomatic Middle Grounds: Theorising and Expanding the Role of Domestic Societies in Paradiplomatic Relations by Scott Michael Harrison and Quinton Huang Chapter 10: The Benefits and Pitfalls of Engaging Youth in Diplomatic Affairs: A Case Study of the Junior Diplomat Initiative by Štěpánka Zemanová Chapter 11: Concluding Reflections by Andrew F. Cooper Harrison, Scott Michael and Quinton Huang. “Chapter 9 Democratic Diplomatic Middle Grounds: Theorising and Expanding the Role of Domestic Societies in Paradiplomatic Relations.” In Home Engagement in Diplomacy: Global Affairs and Domestic Publics. Edited by Jan Melissen, HwaJung Kim, and Githma Chandrasekara. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2026.
Latest projects
Paradiplomacy
Enhancing Trans-Pacific People-to-People Ties
Japan-Canada twinning (sister) relationships
Paradiplomacy
Enhancing Trans-Pacific People-to-People Ties
Japan-Canada twinning (sister) relationships
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
