Wales in the World: Intergovernmental Relations and Sub-State Diplomacy

In: The British journal of politics & international relations: BJPIR, Volume 14, Issue 2, p. 250-269

Abstract

This article explores intergovernmental relations between the devolved Welsh Assembly Government and the central UK government through the prism of two case studies focusing on examples of Welsh sub-state diplomacy, the first being international activity aimed at promoting trade and investment and the second the 'Wales for Africa' programme. The article focuses in particular on the implications for Wales–UK relations of partial party incongruence brought about by the formation of the Labour–Plaid Cymru coalition government in Cardiff in the summer of 2007. The authors also examine the early indications of the impact of full party incongruence following the formation of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government in London in June 2010.