Parliamentary Diplomacy in Making of Foreign Policy

Abstract

The twentieth century has witnessed significant transformations in making of foreign policy. Actors and institutions involved in foreign affairs have increased in number and scope as democratic ideas have triumphed in most parts of the world. In particular, direct involvement of national parliaments in the external affairs of states has increased considerably. The purpose of the present paper is to examine the recent trends on the concept of 'parliamentary diplomacy' and its' potential role in shaping and controlling foreign policy. The paper will conclude with the recommendations for Central Asian countries to promote parliamentary diplomacy in resolving complex regional issues. Keywords: foreign policy, international relations, multilateral cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, representative democracy, democratic transition. The twentieth century has witnessed significant transformations in making of foreign policy. The international system that developed after World War II has generated a strong need for more cooperative, transparent and multidimensional foreign policy. Actors and institutions involved in foreign affairs have increased in number and scope as democratic ideas have triumphed in most parts of the world (Beetham, 2006). Democracy has become a universal value as it was recognized