Dissertation

Parliamentary Agency and Regional Integration : the Logic of Regional Parliaments Around the World

Luciano, Bruno Theodoro

2020

Overview

This thesis investigates the development of regional integration parliaments around the world. It analyses and compares the expansion and current stage of institutional development of three regional assemblies, which are in Europe (European Parliament), Africa (Pan-African Parliament), and Latin America (MERCOSUR Parliament). The key research question this PhD project seeks to answer is: why, and to what extent, have these three regional parliaments developed differently in terms of their functions and legislative competences? In order to answer these questions, particular attention is paid to the notion of parliamentary agency. To this end, this research proposes four types of parliamentary agency, considering both its external (restricted/stimulated agents) and internal (timid/proactive agents) dimensions. A historical institutionalist lens guides the analysis, focusing on the 'critical junctures' in the history of the three assemblies. This thesis draws on new and original empirical data (élite interviews with officials and delegates from the three regional parliaments), official documents, and the academic literature. Thus, this thesis aims to make both an empirical and a conceptual contribution to the emerging literatures on comparative legislative studies and comparative regionalism. The main argument of this thesis is that parliamentary agency has impacted the institutional development of the European Union, MERCOSUR and the African Union, leading the three cases to diverse paths of regional parliamentarisation.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Parliaments