TTLA: Local-level international cooperation - The case of Da Nang city (1997 - 2020).

1. Full name of doctoral candidate: Do Phuong Thao 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: January 22, 1980 4. Place of birth: Da Nang City
5. Decision on admission of doctoral students: Decision No. 4416/2019/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2019, of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in the training process (if any): Decision No. 3675/QD-XHNV dated December 7, 2022, of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on extending the study time of doctoral students QH-2019-X (batch 2, first time).
7. Thesis title: Local-level international cooperation - The case of Da Nang city (1997 - 2020).
8. Major: International Relations 9. Code: 9310601.01
10. Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
Purpose and scope of research for the thesis
- Purpose: To clarify the understanding and practice of international cooperation at the local level worldwide and in Vietnam, with the specific case study being Da Nang city; and based on that, to propose solutions to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation in Da Nang city.
- Research subject: Local-level international cooperation in several countries around the world and in Vietnam, with a specific case study on international cooperation in Da Nang city.
Research methods used
- General methodology: The thesis uses analytical, synthetic, demonstrative, comparative, statistical, and predictive methods, etc., to analyze the characteristics, role, results, and prospects of international cooperation at the local level.
- Historical and logical method: Examining local-level international cooperation over time, from its inception to the present, and in a spatial sequence from the world to Vietnam and then to Da Nang city. The historical method is combined with the application of logic to discover the nature, universality, or objective laws of movement and development of this level of international cooperation.
- Policy analysis method: Understanding and evaluating the objectives and content of the state's foreign policy, as well as international cooperation policies at the local level, specifically the policies of Da Nang city.
- Case study method: Studying Da Nang city's international cooperation as a specific case to analyze the dynamics, role, results, and prospects of local-level international cooperation.
- Expert method: Through practical work, exchange, and discussion with experts on international relations as well as diplomatic officials at central and local levels, information and perspectives on international cooperation at the local level are gathered.
Main results and conclusions
Key results
- This dissertation will contribute to the development of the theoretical and practical foundations for the study of international relations at the local level, an area that has not yet received much attention within the field of international relations in Vietnam.
- In particular, given that studies worldwide and in Vietnam have only focused on analyzing bilateral cooperation at the local level, this dissertation will make a new contribution in terms of theory and practice by systematizing and analyzing multilateral cooperation at the local level.
- This thesis will help central agencies and local governments in Vietnam develop appropriate international cooperation policies in the context of current integration and globalization.
- By analyzing the case of Da Nang city, this dissertation will serve as a useful reference document for the city's leaders and foreign affairs officials to study, plan, and implement international cooperation policies in a practical and effective manner.
Conclude
- Major trends in international relations such as globalization, decentralization, cooperation for development, as well as the support of the international community and the governments of some major countries, have created conditions for the formation and development of international cooperation at the local level. These new practical developments have led to changes in theory and scholarship. The foreign relations activities of sub-state actors have begun to attract the attention of researchers in international relations and related fields such as international law, urban management, public administration, etc. Works on this topic are quite abundant and diverse in both conceptual content and research areas and scope.
- To date, there is still no fully agreed-upon definition to describe the international activities of regions and cities under the national government. In Vietnam, the two concepts of "foreign affairs" and "diplomacy" are often used interchangeably, although their meanings are not identical. To align with the research content and global practices, this dissertation adopts the concepts of "local diplomacy" and "local-level international cooperation" instead of "local foreign affairs," as is commonly used in Vietnam today.
- From the perspective of major international relations theories, all three theories of international relations—realism, liberalism, and constructivism—need to be considered in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics that drive localities to promote international cooperation. Among these, liberalism is the most suitable theoretical foundation because it recognizes the participation of non-state actors in international relations and believes that cooperation remains the main trend in relations between actors.
- Research studies have also yielded an important achievement: efforts to build an analytical framework for diplomacy by sub-state actors. Based on Kuznetsov's analytical framework [2015], the author of this dissertation has developed an analytical framework to apply to the case of Da Nang city in particular and Vietnamese localities in general. From this new analytical framework, the dissertation analyzes three groups of factors affecting international cooperation at the local level in general, including international factors, national factors, and local factors. Specifically for Da Nang city, in addition to the above factors, the city's international cooperation activities are also affected by domestic and internal factors, with internal factors playing a decisive role.
- The foreign relations activities of sub-state entities have a long history of formation and development, primarily through two methods: promoting bilateral relations with other foreign countries/localities or participating in multilateral organizations/networks. In terms of areas of cooperation, development cooperation and climate diplomacy are the two most frequently discussed activities.
- In Vietnam, localities have actively established friendly relations, including bilateral cooperation and participation in multilateral networks at the sub-national level. The number of bilateral relationships as well as the number of international agreements at the local level is increasing, and certain achievements in some areas such as investment, trade, education and training, environment, border cooperation, etc., have been recorded. Some provinces and cities actively promote cooperation in international networks and forums. However, the number of localities achieving outstanding results is not large, and an independent mechanism or program to coordinate and support this activity has not yet been established. Based on this, limitations and obstacles are also analyzed to draw necessary lessons for the integration and cooperation process in the next phase.
- Although international cooperation at the local level worldwide, and in Vietnam in particular, will still face many challenges, it will be an indispensable component of the current multi-layered international relations system. In this context, the achievements in international cooperation of Da Nang City from 1997 to 2020 are vivid evidence of the will and determination of the city's government and people in proactively and actively integrating to utilize support and resources from outside to serve the development of their locality. To enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation activities in Da Nang City, this thesis recommends several solutions, ranging from general policy and awareness solutions to specific plans for resource development, effective application of digital diplomacy tools, strengthening and expanding bilateral relations with foreign localities, and enhancing its role in multilateral organizations and forums.
12. Directions for further research
- Continue to adjust and update the analytical framework on international cooperation at the local level to conform with current legal regulations and the new practical situation of Vietnam in general and Da Nang city in particular.
- Continue to supplement and refine the concept of "international cooperation at the local level" in the context of Vietnam; clarify the differences between the two concepts of "international cooperation at the local level" and "local foreign relations".
- Further research into several modalities and areas of international cooperation at the local level, including local-level development cooperation, local climate diplomacy, and local-level multilateral cooperation.
13. Published works related to the dissertation

Thesis purpose and objects
- Purpose: To clarify the perception and practices of international cooperation at local level around the world and in Vietnam with Da Nang City as a case study.
- Objects: International cooperation of sub-national entities around the world and in Viet Nam with a case study on international cooperation of Da Nang City.
Produce methods
- General methods: The thesis utilizes methods of analysis, summary, justification, comparison, statistical collection and prediction etc. to analyze the features, roles, results and future of international cooperation at local level.
- Historical and logical methods: These methods are applied to consider international cooperation from its inception up to now and within the spatial sequences from Vietnam to Da Nang City, as well as to find out the nature, popularity or rules of objective development of this phenomenon.
- Policy analyzing method: Objectives and contents of the foreign policy at central and local levels are discussed and evaluated, especially in the case of Da Nang.
- Case study method: International cooperation of Da Nang City is studied as an example to illustrate the motivations, roles, results and prospects of international cooperation at local level.
- Expert method: The author collects information and perspectives regarding international cooperation at local level through working practices, discussions, and talks with international relations experts as well as diplomatic officers in both central and local agencies.
Major results and conclusions
The major results
- The thesis will contribute to the development of theoretical and practical grounds for research on international cooperation at local level, which is a new topic with insufficient attention in the International Relations discipline in Vietnam.
- Especially, while other research in the world and Vietnam have just focused on sub-national bilateral relations, the thesis will make new theoretical and practical contributions by systematizing and analyzing multilateral cooperation at this level.
- The thesis will act as a source of reference for Vietnamese agencies at central and local level to devise appropriate international cooperation policies in the context of integration and globalisation.
- With the case of Da Nang to be studied, the thesis will be helpful for leaders and officials of Da Nang in exploring, stipulating and effectively implementing cooperation with foreign partners.
Revisions
- Major trends in international relations include globalisation, decentralization, cooperation for development, as well as the support of international communities and some major countries have paved the way for international cooperation at local level. Such new moves have led to changes in academic and theoretical fields. More attention has been paid to the international action of sub-state actors. Research conducted by scholars in International Relations and other relevant disciplines have increased with diverse perception, contents, areas and scopes.
- A generally accepted concept to indicate the international action of sub-state entities has been still absent so far. In Vietnam, the two terms “external relations” and “diplomacy” have been interchangeably used despite their different meanings. In the thesis, the concepts of “sub-national diplomacy” and “international cooperation at local level” are adapted instead of the frequently used term “local external relations” in Vietnam.
- From the perspective of main international relations theories, all the three theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism need to be considered to build on a comprehensive view of motivations behind international action of sub-state actors. Of them, liberalism should be the most suitable theory because it recognizes the participation of non-state actors in international relations and confirms that cooperation is still a main tendency in the multi-actor relationship.
- Analytical frameworks are also significant achievements of research in this field. Based on Kuznetsov's analytical framework [2015], the thesis's analytical framework is built, which is applicable to the case of Da Nang City as well as other Vietnamese localities. From this perspective, the thesis analyzes three groups of factors involving international cooperation at local level, which include international, national and local factors. In the case of Da Nang, besides those general factors, the city's international cooperation is also impacted by Vietnamese factors and internal factors of Da Nang. Although all these factors are important, the city's internal ones determine.
- The international action of sub-state actors has been developed for a long time with the two most popular forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Those entities have promoted bilateral relations with other foreign nation-states and localities as well as conducted their membership in multilateral organizations and networks. Regarding cooperative aspects, cooperation development and climate diplomacy are considered the most typical and engaging activities.
- Vietnamese provinces and have actively established friendly ties and taken part in sub-national networks. The number of bilateral agreements and relationships have increasingly risen with certain outputs in several fields of investment, trade, education and training, environment, and border cooperation etc. Some localities have assumed proactive roles in multilateral networks and forums. However, the count of remarkable results is still limited and there is still lack of an independent mechanism or program in Vietnam to assist sub-national diplomacy. In this regard, considerations and hindrances are explored for necessary lessons to serve the integration and cooperation in the next period.
- Although international cooperation at local level in the world and Vietnam will particularly face many challenges, this action will be an indispensable component of the present multi-layered international relations. With this in mind, the results of Da Nang's international cooperation during the period of 1997 - 2020 have demonstrated the determination and efforts of the city government and people. The city aims at proactive integration to make use of external resources for local socio-economic development. The thesis recommends some groups of measures for more effective international cooperation of Da Nang, which range from policy-making, awareness raising to capacity building, utilization of digital diplomacy, improvement of existing linkages and establishment of new ties, as well as better participation in multilateral networks.