External Relations of the Regions: the Main Problems of Paradiplomacy Theory

The article discusses the theoretical basis of research in the feld of paradiplomacy or external relations of intrastate administrative-territorial entities. Paradiplomacy is an umbrella concept within several theoretical approaches that are significantly close in content. The author analyzes the main problems in the theory of diplomacy related to the lack of heuristic potential and the lack of a formed conceptual grid. Materials and methods: from a theoretical and methodological point of view, the author uses the hermeneutic approach, which allows to combine descriptive techniques and analysis of the subjective aspects of the given phenomenon. In addition, the author relies on a comparative historical method and a normative political analysis, which makes it possible to ft the facts of political reality into the framework of political theory. The paradiplomatic practice of Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, Tanzania, and the Republic of South Africa acted as the material for the study. Research results: the author has identifed three main problems of the theory of paradiplomacy, which delay its further development. The theory of paradiplomacy does not have clear answers for questions of the spatial transformation of administrative-territorial units and the relationship of these transformation processes with paradiplomatic activity. The theory of paradiplomacy is unable to explain the phenomena of multilateral interregional relations and the unevenness of paradiplomatic activity. Discussions and conclusions: the author states that the existing theoretical approaches to paradiplomacy are mainly descriptive in nature and do not address the problems of a methodological, epistemological and normative nature, which is an undoubted drawback.