Abstract
Few attempts have been made to engage with the growing scholarship on City Diplomacy in the Global South, how these respective cities approach their international relations, and their global activism in the diverse thematic areas of city diplomacy. Therefore, this study critically analysed the evolving landscape of global activism for socio-economic justice, where cities in the Global South have increasingly taken on significant roles in shaping international affairs using the case of the city of Johannesburg from 2011 to 2016, in efforts to contribute to the expansion of the literature in city diplomacy as well as the diversification of the discourse on the phenomenon.
The primary focus of this study was to address the question of how the city of Johannesburg has used its international relations to promote global socio-economic justice. The research is centred around three key aspects: understanding the local and global factors that influenced the city's progressive internationalism approach, examining the various strategies and initiatives implemented to drive this global activism, and assessing both the achievements and challenges encountered in this endeavour.
The key findings of this study suggest that the city of Johannesburg made significant progress in strategically improving and expanding its global political activism and influence during this period. In general, this era represented a pivotal moment during which the city assumed a prominent role in the field of city diplomacy, emphasizing not just its economic concerns but also actively contributing to the larger objective of establishing a fair and equitable global system, leaving a distinct and meaningful impact. Furthermore, the study also highlights the need for better institutionalisation and formalisation of city diplomacy as a practice in the city of Johannesburg. Currently, the onus for the city’s global activism rests largely on the internationalist outlook of the city’s mayor. This impacts the sustainability of the city’s efforts on the global stage. Additionally, the study highlights significant gaps in the literature of the phenomenon in critically analysing the dynamic interaction between local and global factors and their impact on shaping the international relations of cities in the Global South. More extensive exploration is needed to understand how both factors collectively influence and shape the approach to city diplomacy.