Local Governments as International Players: Examining Town Twinning as a Mechanism

摘要

It is commonly perceived that diplomacy and international affairs are the domain of national government. This paper argues that non-state actors specifically, local government units (LGUs), can also be effective international players in bringing about stronger ties in the region by means of enhanced bilateral cooperation between towns and cities especially within the ASEAN region. This paper explores how local governments can forward their development objectives by establishing linkages with other local governments in different countries. Referred to as town twinning, it is a tool by which LGUs can obtain resources from "sister-cities" and foster mutual understanding and local development through business, trade, technical, cultural, and educational exchanges. The main question that guides this paper is: In what ways can local governments units meet their local development needs through town twinning as a mechanism? Using document analysis and a case study approach, the paper discusses the processes and outcomes of town twinning arrangements of selected LGUs in the Philippines. The paper presents the potential for increasing flows of material resources and human capital for LGUs through this approach. It also proposes that local governments especially within ASEAN need to proactively maximize the benefits of town twinning arrangements to attain a greater sense of community within the context of local and regional development.