Conceptual explanation and presentation of urban diplomacy model in urban networks

The formation of successful examples of urban unions, such as the Union of Mediterranean, Baltic cities, etc., by benefiting from the tool of city diplomacy, has led to the development of cities and has a special effect on the international activities of cities, this research has been carried out with the aim of explaining the conceptual understanding of city diplomacy and presenting the general pattern of urban networks in the world by using the descriptive-analytical method. In this regard, by using reliable sources and articles and examining successful experiences in this field, various types of city diplomacy, the levels, and cooperation system of city diplomacy, along with the extraction of its most important dimensions and indicators, have been examined and finally the General model of city diplomacy is presented. The findings of the research show that city diplomacy has been carried out in two ways, bilateral and multilateral, on both regional and global scales, and many actors are involved in realizing its goals. Among the 32 indicators extracted from various research studies and experiences, the most important indicators are the membership index in international organizations and forums, followed by the two indicators of the memorandum of understanding of sustainable development and the exchange of knowledge and services, which can be used for case studies in different regions of the world, and with the help of these indicators, it is possible to examine the capacities of forming urban unions and joining them in a region.