Abstract
This study investigates the contribution of paradiplomacy to developmental regionalism in Southern Africa, focusing on municipal-level collaboration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Paradiplomacy, international relations activities undertaken by subnational governments, has been increasingly emerging as a socio-economic development tool and instrument for regional integration across Africa. Despite its growing presence, there remains a significant knowledge deficit in ascertaining the degree to which municipal paradiplomacy stimulates regional development and governance. Spurred by the overarching research question: To what degree does ongoing paradiplomacy among municipalities make a contribution to SADC's developmental regionalism? - This study endeavours to examine the degree to which subnational cross-border collaboration exists, the reasons why, and its impact. With the application of exploratory qualitative methodologies, data was collected through documentary analysis of original and secondary documentation of SADC reports, treaties, and learned articles, analyzed by thematic analysis in order to ascertain dominant trends and drivers of paradiplomatic action within the region. Research indicates habitual issues, encompassing the responses by cross-border networks to politically and economically influenced national-level difficulties, along with inadequacies and disparities in institutional capacity, as rampant setbacks. The research contributes to the limited existing literature on Southern African municipal paradiplomacy with an examination of the promise of its influence on developmental regionalism. The research aims to illuminate policymaking in SADC and other regional mechanisms, making practical recommendations for securing the greatest dividends of subnational cooperation for sustainable development and integrated governance. While the absence of direct interviews is a limitation to recording contemporaneous perceptions, the research compensates through extensive documentary analysis and data source triangulation that is mixed.