Twin touns an sister ceeties

Sign denotin twin touns o Neckarsulm, Germany

Twin touns an sister ceeties are twa o mony terms uised tae describe the cooperative agreements atween a toun, ceeties an even coonties in geographically an poleetically distinct auries tae promote cultural an commercial ties.

Terminology

In the Unitit Kinrick, the term twin towns is maist commonly uised, generally referrin tae toun-twinnin wi Europe, differentiating with the term sister cities, which is uised for agreements wi touns an ceeties in the Unitit States. In Europe, a variety o terms are uised; maist commonly twin touns, but pairtnership touns, pairtner touns an friendship touns, are an aa uised. Germany uises Partnerstadt (Pairtner Toun/Ceety), Fraunce uises Ville Jumelée (Twinned Toun/Ceety). In the Netherlands, the term Stedenband (Ceety bond) is uised. North Americae, Sooth Americae, Sooth Asie, Australasie an Asie generally uise the term sister ceeties. In the umwhile Soviet Bloc kintras twin touns is uised, as well as the term brither ceeties, which is uised on occasion.

Sometimes ither govrenment bodies enter intae a "twinnin" relationship, such as the agreement atween the provinces o Hainan in Cheenae an Jeju-do in the Republic o Korea, or atween Washington, D.C., an Beijing.

The Douzelage is a toun twinnin association wi ane toun frae each o the member states o the European Union.

Ither meanins

The phrase "sister ceeties" is sometimes uised tae refer tae ceeties without a formal agreement that have similar cultures and/or historical backgrounds, such as Galveston, Texas and New Orleans, two cities that were historically major Southern ports on the Gulf coast.

Criticism

The concept o sister ceeties haes been criticized as an unnecessary an expensive endeavor for ceeties tae take pairt in with little tae nae accoontability or obvious signs o economic development resultin frae the arrangement. Politeecians are frequently accused o uisin sister ceeties as an excuse tae take a pleasure trip at public expense, commonly referred tae as a junket.

See an aa

• Paradiplomacy
• Leet o twin touns an sister ceeties
• Cross-border toun namin
• Partnership 2000
• Warld Ceety

Further readin

• Twinnings for Tomorrow's World - A Practical Handbook. Brussels: CEMR Council of European Municipalities and Regions. http://admin5.geniebuilder.com/users/ccre/bases/T_599_46_3524.pdf. Retrieved 11 January 2010. 

Freemit airtins

• Germany an the toun twinnin movement
• Toun twinnin in Europe's municipalities, touns an regions
• Toun twinnin in Breetain syne 1945
• Twinnin in Europe
• UK Toun Twinnin Portal

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Town twinning