Parliamentary Diplomacy

1. International Organizations and
Diplomacy
Parliamentary Diplomacy in
Foreign Policy
Presentation By: Laititia C. Aycardo
AB POLSCI 3-1

2. Roles of International Organizations
Anarchic nature of international system based on state sovereignty
States work together
Rules that govern most interactions in IR
Agreed norms of behavior
Power of international norms and standards of morality
Shared norms and habits may not suffice to solve international dilemmas
International organizations

3. International norms are evolving in such areas as humanitarian
intervention and human rights. These norms help define the roles
of international organizations. One of their areas of concern is the
use of child soldiers, like this ten-year-old Libyan rebel in 2011.
Another concern, the protection of civilians from slaughter,
inspired NATO intervention in the Libya conflict.
NOT THE NORM

4. International Organizations
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Global or regional or bilateral in scope
General or specific functional purposes
Regional IGOs - European Union, Association of South East Asian Nations, Southern Cone
Common Market, African Union
Global IGOs - UN, Intelsat, OPEC
NGOs - more specialized in function than IGOs

5. The United Nations has very limited powers and resources, yet the
world places great hopes in the UN when national governments
cannot solve problems. Sometimes the UN seems to need an
assist, like this vehicle in 2010 in Western Sahara, where the
peace process itself has been stuck for many years.
UNITED
NATIONS

7. The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in
Foreign Policy
 The duties and actions of Parliaments in the foreign area are condensed into what we call
Parliamentary Diplomacy and there is no precise definition of this concept.
 “ the institutional competence of regulated Parliaments in the area of international relations of
the country”.
 “ broader political roles of parliaments in the implementation of formulation of a country’s
foreign policy”.
 ; “ the activities carried out by Parliaments in international relations, both within the limits of
institutional competence and central factor of internal political scene”.

8.  The wider role of the Parliaments in the system of a country’s foreign policy varies, depending
on the historical origins of the country, its political system and overall position in the
international arena.
 A first set of parameters relate to the form of government that defines the role and authorities
of various institutions.
 Parliaments are more vulnerable to handling foreign affairs, internal pressure of public
opinion, the need for transparency, and great influence of the media.
A significant parameter influences the parliamentary diplomacy and is essential content of its
foreign policy, i.e the national priorities and international weight of every country.

9. THANK YOU !