Parliamentary Diplomacy: An Epistemological Analysis

This book chapter provides an epistemological analysis of parliamentary diplomacy, examining its conceptual foundations, historical evolution, and analytical relevance within the field of International Relations. Drawing on a qualitative and theory-driven approach, it explores the emergence of parliaments as international actors and assesses parliamentary diplomacy as a complementary instrument to traditional state diplomacy. The chapter situates parliamentary diplomacy within key theoretical frameworks, including positivism, neoliberal institutionalism, pluralism, functionalism, and constructivism, highlighting its contribution to norm diffusion, democratic legitimacy, and soft power. By addressing the persistent conceptual ambiguity surrounding parliamentary diplomacy, the chapter contributes to a more systematic understanding of its role in contemporary global governance and foreign policy analysis.