Paradiplomacy as a vector of Local Development in Campo Grande-MS within the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor

Abstract

This article investigates the role of paradiplomacy as a strategic tool for local development and the international insertion of subnational entities, focusing on the case of Campo Grande (MS) within the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor. As globalization weakens the state monopoly over foreign policy, the international action of municipalities and states gains relevance in International Relations. This research, with a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, is based on specialized bibliography and institutional documents, aiming to understand how Campo Grande can position itself as a logistical, economic, and cultural hub in the corridor that connects Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile to the Pacific Ocean. The study identifies three main types of paradiplomacy – commercial, identity-based, and regional integration –, noting that its effectiveness depends on factors such as bureaucratic capacity, institutional alignment with state and federal levels, and participation in multi-level cooperation networks. Partial results indicate that paradiplomacy can boost agribusiness, attract foreign direct investment, expand exports of value-added products, and promote cultural and academic exchanges. However, significant challenges remain, including regulatory and bureaucratic barriers, financial limitations, and linguistic obstacles, which require strategies to overcome. The study concludes that paradiplomacy is a key vector for local development and regional integration, especially when institutionalized as a permanent public policy at the municipal level. In this sense, Campo Grande has the potential to move beyond being merely a transit point of the Corridor to assert itself as a dynamic center and articulator of economic, social, and cultural opportunities in the South American space.