The academic study of “parliamentary diplomacy” has greatly expanded recently. Special emphasis has been given to the European Parliament as a leading diplomatic actor in human rights protection, democracy support, and conflict resolution efforts worldwide. Similar forms of parliamentary diplomacy can be found in other parliamentary assemblies, and also among many (sub)national parliaments.
Illustrating the diversity of parliamentary diplomacy, our panel will cover various parliamentary roles and instruments. Particular attention will be given to the following four issues:
· Parliamentary diplomacy, democracy and their inter-relationship
· Whether parliamentary diplomacy should and does support state diplomacy.
· Parliamentary diplomacy and conflict-resolution: for instance, on the question of “recognition” of states and governments.
· Parliamentary diplomacy and the promotion of equalities, human rights and climate justice
1. What is the relationship between parliamentary diplomacy and key parliamentary functions? Do established concepts of parliamentary diplomacy, such as "flexibility", the "moral tribune," and “pluralism” hold up in practice? How can democratic theory strengthen the study of parliamentary diplomacy?
2. Should parliamentary diplomacy support, complement, challenge, or even undermine state diplomacy? Should parliaments avoid vetoing or running a parallel diplomacy to that of the state, or must parliamentary diplomacy do things in world affairs that the executive cannot? How might national and historical contexts offer different and interesting perspectives on this question?
3. Given that state/government recognition is typically a prerogative of other states or international organizations, and parliamentary recognition of states remains understudied as a result, what moral and legitimacy dimensions does parliamentary recognition add, and how does it put additional pressure on governments or international organizations to act?
4. How transformative is parliamentary diplomacy in the promotion of equalities, human rights, and climate justice? How are these concerns embedded (or not) in the organisation/practice of parliamentary diplomacy?
The Panel calls for papers that cover the above topics: with an emphasis given to theoretical implications of empirical (including comparative) studies.
The Panel language will be English. A future publication is expected after the Conference, preferably a special issue in an academic journal like International Journal of Parliamentary Studies, or The Hague Journal of Diplomacy.
