Municipalism and the rise of the city in global governance

Abstract Taking stock of the recent growth in engagement between cities and global governance, this article questions whether such developments align with the historical and political tenets of municipalism. It asks: does the ‘rise of the city’ as a global political actor advance the municipalist project, despite the fact that it takes place in, and ostensibly follows the rules of, the state-led system? To evaluate this, it conceptualises municipalism as a multifaceted project encompassing institutional, normative, and technical dimensions, rooted in principles of decentralisation, local democracy, political participation, and transnational solidarity. The article then empirically analyses the growing engagement of cities in global governance, specifically in relation to the United Nations’ global agendas. It finds that while cities have gained visibility and influence, their institutional role so far remains largely consultative and informal, falling short of municipalist aspirations for formal recognition and decision-making power. Normatively, efforts to embed principles such as decentralisation and local democracy at the global level have faced significant resistance from states. In contrast, the technical dimension – manifested in city networks and policy-oriented cooperation – has expanded substantially, though often in depoliticised and technocratic forms. The article concludes that contemporary city activism reflects only a partial and uneven realisation of municipalism, with its political ambitions constrained but its technical practices flourishing within existing global governance structures.