The dynamics of sub-national leadership and rapport in transnational partnership working

This paper discusses experiences of sub-national (place) leadership in transnational partnership working. It explores transnational collaboration between two twinned cities: Birmingham (UK) and Leipzig (Germany). Using semi-structured interviews with sub-national leaders, we examine enabling factors and barriers facing transnational partnership working over three decades in the context of changing national and regional partnership environments. The paper surfaces the significance of rapport in relational working between leaders and recognises the need to situate associated discussions within an understanding of the dynamics of structure and agency.