Svenska kommuner och paradiplomati : En kvalitativ fallstuide av Helsingborgs och Stockholms internationella arbeten

Sammanfattning: This case study of the international relations of two Swedish municipalities aims at a widened understanding of the fairly new phenomena of subnational international presence. The theoretical approach to this is paradiplomacy, which explains why subnational actors are seeking international relations. The majority of paradiplomatic studies have focused mainly on subnational government and the regional level. This study aims at widening the understanding of local government exclusively. Helsingborg and Stockholm were chosen as two successful Swedish municipalities in international relations. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with civil servants in positions in the international relations of the municipality. In addition, relevant policy documents of the municipalities complemented the interviews. The result showed that the international relations of the municipalities consisted of mostly cross-border and/or transregional paradiplomacy. Motives for paradiplomacy were related to economic gain through development and investment attraction. The states reactions to the paradiplomatic activities were mostly described as neutral. What seems crucial for successful paradiplomacy is a sort of bureaucratic expertise, such as knowing which international areas the municipality should prioritize, according to what would favor them specifically.