從世界主要國家地方自治的發展歷史過程來觀察,隨著第三波民主化與地方分權化的推展,1980年代以來各國地方自治已出現全球化趨勢。1985年國際自治體聯合世界大會發表「世界地方自治宣言」,1998年聯合國人類居住中心和世界都市與世界地方自治體協會的專家,共同協商世界地方自治憲章的草案。更具體的發展是,隨著經濟全球化而帶動跨國公司、國際組織、非政府組織、志工組織的蓬勃發展,一方面降低「主權國家」作爲國際體系的唯一行爲者,另一方面也促使各國地方政府積極推動國際化事務。本文嘗試分析日本自1980年代以來地方自治體進行國際化的實際經驗及其發展,並且提出亞太地區實可積極推動都市的國際交流,促進多元文化的共生都市。
The general theoretical assumption of mainstream International Relations theories is that the world is still comprised of nations represented official only by a unitary national government. This government is responsible for overseeing the international affairs. In this article, we can find and examine that Japan's local governments' involvement in international affairs by recognizing the importance of grassroots activity. Key areas of Japan's local governments' international engagement are economics, diplomatic action, networking and international cooperation. In this article, we also find and examine that the retry of local governments into international arena is the source and outcome of decentralization of Japan after 1990s.