Abstract:

In recent years, local governments’ international relations activities are increasing. Local governments carry out international activities by establishing brother-city relations, as members of international organizations and by signing agreement/goodwill letters with cooperation protocols. In this direction, the study aimed at examining the activities of international relations of local governments in Turkey. After referring to the theoretical, historical and legal backgrounds related to international activities in the study, statistical data related to the activities of international relations of local governments in Turkey and consulting with the relevant units managers in the 6 metropolitan municipalities with the largest membership in international organizations have been identified and evaluated. The study found that the number of local governments in Turkey increases in international relations activities, that membership is effectively carried out, that they are members of international organizations considered to be beneficial, that a goal is determined before being a member, that international organizations can be an important shareholder and that they have achieved significant achievements by implementing projects in partnership.

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