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<p>Argentina and China are organized politically and administratively as federal and unitary states respectively. In both cases, participation of the provinces in foreign policy through paradiplomacy is relevant. This article aims to analyze the relationship between decentralization/centralization of the state, foreign policy, and paradiplomacy in Argentina and China. The intention is to analyze the articulation between the subnational and national levels in relation to paradiplomatic action and foreign policy-making. The theoretical approach employs theories on decentralization and centralization in unitary and federal political systems; alongside studies on paradiplomacy and territorial internationalization. The methodology is a qualitative comparative case study in which the provinces of Jujuy (Argentina) and the city of Shanghai (China) are studied from 2013 to 2023. Both subnational units are very active in their paradiplomatic activities and have played substantive roles in bilateral cooperation between China and Argentina. Shanghai is a developed subnational unit and the economic center of China, while Jujuy has abundant natural resources and development potential. In this context, the following research questions arise: How does de/centralization influence the multi-level articulation between the state and its subnational units? How does de/centralization affect the mechanisms of articulation between national foreign policy and subnational paradiplomacy? We find that a state’s organizational status as a federal or unitary system does not necessarily imply decentralization or centralization respectively. Instead, greater or lesser functional articulation between subnational and national levels can promote a system that incorporates the development interests of all actors involved. In the international arena, the articulation between the state’s foreign policy and the paradiplomacy of subnational units enables coherent and concrete action that takes advantage of the context in the interests of national development.</p>

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De/Centralization, Foreign Policy and Paradiplomacy: A Comparative Analysis of Argentina and China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年3月27日

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  • Stella Maris Juste,
  • Cao Ting

摘要

Argentina and China are organized politically and administratively as federal and unitary states respectively. In both cases, participation of the provinces in foreign policy through paradiplomacy is relevant. This article aims to analyze the relationship between decentralization/centralization of the state, foreign policy, and paradiplomacy in Argentina and China. The intention is to analyze the articulation between the subnational and national levels in relation to paradiplomatic action and foreign policy-making. The theoretical approach employs theories on decentralization and centralization in unitary and federal political systems; alongside studies on paradiplomacy and territorial internationalization. The methodology is a qualitative comparative case study in which the provinces of Jujuy (Argentina) and the city of Shanghai (China) are studied from 2013 to 2023. Both subnational units are very active in their paradiplomatic activities and have played substantive roles in bilateral cooperation between China and Argentina. Shanghai is a developed subnational unit and the economic center of China, while Jujuy has abundant natural resources and development potential. In this context, the following research questions arise: How does de/centralization influence the multi-level articulation between the state and its subnational units? How does de/centralization affect the mechanisms of articulation between national foreign policy and subnational paradiplomacy? We find that a state’s organizational status as a federal or unitary system does not necessarily imply decentralization or centralization respectively. Instead, greater or lesser functional articulation between subnational and national levels can promote a system that incorporates the development interests of all actors involved. In the international arena, the articulation between the state’s foreign policy and the paradiplomacy of subnational units enables coherent and concrete action that takes advantage of the context in the interests of national development.