From Isolation to Integration: Assessing the Impact of City Diplomacy on Small-City Development in Iran

Abstract

Abstract. The growth of larger cities has marginalized small cities in urban planning. Small cities have capacities and abilities and put less pressure on the environment. However, such cities often are not able to foster international connections and use their potential. City diplomacy can be a useful tool for such cities to conduct international connections and improve their development, enabling them to establish partnerships with larger urban centers, thus gaining access to valuable resources, knowledge, and financial support. The purpose of this study is to find a rational relationship between urban diplomacy and the development of small towns. Specifically, disregarding their specific needs would lead to various challenges, including missed chances, hindered development, and deteriorated disparities, impacting society. A descriptive-analytical method is used in addition to direct scientific observation, imaging, and analysis of raw data to do the research. The author has conducted interviews and taken pictures of the case study area, and to reach a result, has compared the evidence of a region with potential with the results of other studies. Nour city has scattered stores and old urban contexts, indicating a lack of preparation for diplomatic and transnational relations. Based on field observations and statistical data, it can be deduced that in the city of Nour, due to the lack of related infrastructure and lack of diplomatic relations, the city does not have national or transnational relations, and this weakness has made the city underdeveloped in as the mentioned deficiencies are leading factors to failure.

Keywords: City Diplomacy, Parallel Diplomacy, Development, Small Towns, Small Cities, Nour.