CONTINUING CONTROVERSIES OVER STATE AND LOCAL FOREIGN POLICY SANCTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

In: Publius: the journal of federalism, Band 29, Heft 2, S. 111-134

Abstract

RECENT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SANCTIONS ON BUSINESS WITH BURMA AND CERTAIN SWISS BANKS RENEWS A DEBATE OVER FOREIGN POLICY POWERS IN FEDERAL SYSTEMS THAT OPERATE IN AN INTEGRATED GLOBAL ECONOMY. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PROMOTION HAS BECOME AN ACCEPTED FUNCTION OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. MORE CONTROVERSIAL IS THE IMPOSITION OF FOREIGN POLICY SANCTIONS, WHERE ECONOMIC INVOLVEMENT BECOMES A LEVER TO PURSUE POLITICAL GOALS RATHER THAN AN OBJECTIVE IN ITSELF. WHEN COMPARED WITH PAST CASES, INCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA AND THE ARAB BOYCOTT, RECENT STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES DEMONSTRATE BOTH CONTINUITY AND FRESH DEPARTURES IN FEDERALISM'S EVOLVING ADJUSTMENT TO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. THESE DEVELOPMENTS CAN BE USED TO EXAMINE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS SUCH AS CONSTITUENT AND MULTILAYERED DIPLOMACY. THEY ALSO ARGUE FOR IMPROVED PRACTICAL COOPERATION AMONG THE MULTIPLE AND DIVERSE ACTORS ENGAGED IN FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES.