Allison White, Dixie State University
This study closely examines sister city relationships through both a research analysis as well as an extensive case history. The research analysis reviews these relationships through a historical context, focusing on the origination, benefits, factors that contribute to the greatest success of a relationship, and the risks of a destructive relationship. The process of establishing a relationship, marketing the relationship and the specific programs it entails, and the prospective trails sister city relationships will blaze over the next several years are also assessed. The analysis essentially provides a gauge of the overall value of these relationships to a city, based upon historical cases and examples. The case history involves the coordination and marketing efforts of the St. George, Utah, and Ibigawa, Japan, relationship and its subsequent study abroad program. It closely examines the best practices involved in these efforts that can be applied to future efforts pertaining to sister cities and specifically study abroad programs.