THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BANDUNG CITY PARADIPLOMACY THROUGH SISTER CITY COOPERATION WITH SUWON CITY IN PROMOTING BANDUNG TOURISM (2011-2014)

Abstract

The phenomenon of globalization has expanded the authority of central government in carrying out diplomacy activities to involved sub-state actor such as local government. This expansion of authority is through the regional autonomy system in a country and has given local government broader opportunity to fulfilling the interests of the region through international cooperation. The emergence of sub-state actors is the beginning of the establishment of Sister City as a form of Paradiplomacy. One of this Paradiplomacy practices is the Sister City cooperation between Bandung city and Suwon city. This Sister City cooperation which has been running since 1997 is carried out with the aim to not only strengthen diplomatic relations between the two cities, but also to have a concrete implementation that benefited both parties so that it will not only remain as ceremonial cooperation. However, in its implementation, this Sister City cooperation has experienced ups and downs and has only started running significantly in 2011 until 2014. By using qualitative research methods, this thesis aims to analyze the implementation of Sister City cooperation between Bandung city and Suwon city through the programs that in line to promote Bandung tourism. In these findings, it is noted that the implemented programs is considered effective and significant because of the similar characteristics as the basic foundation of this cooperation and by the active involvement of both local governments.