INTERWEAVING DIPLOMACY, DATA, AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF BARCELONA’S LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Local governance plays a crucial role in sustainable development. While research has examined diplomacy, data, and technology within local governance, their combined impact still needs to be explored. This study aimed to investigate how the city of Barcelona integrated diplomatic relations, data-driven insights, and technological advancements to propel local sustainability efforts. Employing a qualitative approach with a multi-method design, the study explored the interaction of diplomacy, data, and technology in fostering sustainable community development. The tracing process involved analyzing official reports, city council documents, and academic publications from 2015 to 2023. In-case analysis complemented process tracing and focused on specific policies, programs, and practices that promoted data-driven decision-making and technology use within Barcelona’s sustainability efforts. The detailed examination included documents from the Barcelona city website and other official sources. The Inductive, Descriptive Case Study allowed natural phenomena to emerge; finally, thematic analysis categorized patterns and identified key themes related to diplomacy, data, and digital technologies within Barcelona’s LGSD context. The investigation revealed a compelling three-pronged approach: (i) Cross-sectoral Diplomacy and Engagement: Barcelona fostered a collaborative environment where diverse stakeholders worked in concert. (ii) Data-Driven Decision Making: The city leveraged the power of data to inform strategic policy choices. (iii) Technology-Enhanced Governance: Technology acted as a catalyst, streamlining and optimizing governance processes. The study offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in other countries seeking to adopt similar strategies. Further research must explore context-specific implementation approaches and diplomatic strategies, considering different regions' diverse social, civic, political, and economic landscapes.