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

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 WalesUK relations of partial party incongruence brought about by the formation of the LabourPlaid 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 ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition government in London in June 2010.