As one of the actors of the international system, cities, along with governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, etc., contribute to international interactions in today's globalized world. Metropolises, as the largest human groups, also play a major role in the development and exploitation of “urban diplomacy”. The objective of contemporary diplomacy extends beyond merely preventing conflicts and fostering peace among governments. The objectives and functions of diplomacy have transcended security and politics, extending into the economic, social, cultural, and media domains. Accordingly, the main question of this study was as follows: what is the procedure for urban diplomacy formation in international relations? In this qualitative study, 22 urban management experts and managers of Tabriz municipalities of Tabriz in 2022 were selected as the participants through snowball sampling; then the necessary data were obtained through interviews with the participants. This study aimed to address the procedure of urban diplomacy formation in international relations. The thematic analysis of the data obtained from the interviews revealed 284 primary codes, 45 classified codes, 17 sub-themes, and six main themes. These six main themes account for the main components of urban diplomacy, including culture, media, education, sports, tourism, and religion. The identified elements represent the core process of urban diplomacy formation as a framework, and their continuity and simultaneity foster the development of diplomatic relations between Tabriz and other cities around the world, particularly sister cities.
As one of the actors of the international system, cities, along with governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, etc., contribute to international interactions in today's globalized world. Metropolises, as the largest human groups, also play a major role in the development and exploitation of “urban diplomacy”. The objective of contemporary diplomacy extends beyond merely preventing conflicts and fostering peace among governments. The objectives and functions of diplomacy have transcended security and politics, extending into the economic, social, cultural, and media domains. Accordingly, the main question of this study was as follows: what is the procedure for urban diplomacy formation in international relations? In this qualitative study, 22 urban management experts and managers of Tabriz municipalities of Tabriz in 2022 were selected as the participants through snowball sampling; then the necessary data were obtained through interviews with the participants. This study aimed to address the procedure of urban diplomacy formation in international relations. The thematic analysis of the data obtained from the interviews revealed 284 primary codes, 45 classified codes, 17 sub-themes, and six main themes. These six main themes account for the main components of urban diplomacy, including culture, media, education, sports, tourism, and religion. The identified elements represent the core process of urban diplomacy formation as a framework, and their continuity and simultaneity foster the development of diplomatic relations between Tabriz and other cities around the world, particularly sister cities.