The international insertion of Campinas: conceptual aspects

Abstract

The process of globalization which increased during the nineties changed the dynamic of international relations. Despite the importance national states still have in the international scenario, it has been diminishing as they cannot solve the problems inside their territories. Considering that the phenomenon of the globalizing world is felt locally, sub national governments are progressively becoming more important. Together with them other, non-governmental actors also contribute to find solutions which would allow the sustainable development of localities. The number of international cooperation agreements signed by sub national governments has increased in recent years and the cities acquired competences which were previously exclusivities of national states. In fact, cities play a real paradiplomacy. Among the Brazilian cities which have an international insertion, we emphasize Campinas and its memorandum of agreement with Montpellier, in France. Besides, we intend to demonstrate that, due its characteristics, Campinas is simultaneously a city-space and a city-actor in the international field.