Small States and Parliamentary Diplomacy: Slovenia and the Mediterranean

Abstract

The essay contributes to the scholarship on parliamentary diplomacy in the Mediterranean region through the lens of a small state: Slovenia. We argue that, because of limited resources, small states need to diversify their means of foreign policy to make their voices heard. Parliamentary diplomacy is a useful tool for representing Slovenian positions abroad. It enables focus on selected issues on the international agenda chosen together with the government and establishes continuous expert knowledge at the senior levels of parliament. However, it also exposes a small state's limited capability to provide support for the parliament's external relations. With specific reference to the Mediterranean, we find that there is considerable room for improvement, even with some evident obstacles, such as the lack of continuity in parliamentary representation.