Parliamentary committee influence on foreign policy decisions : an examination of case studies from West Germany, Canada, and Australia

Abstract

Leading analysts in the field of foreign policy in a parliamentary democracy have long argued that Parliament can have no significant impact on foreign policy. This thesis, through case studies of one part of the parliamentary system - the Foreign Affairs Committees - argues the contrary view that legislatures have actually exerted important influence on external policies, albeit in exceptional cases. The thesis further seeks to derive some empirically valid generalisations concerning the circumstances and conditions under which the possibilities for such influence are greatest. In deriving these generalisations I have undertaken case studies of three parliamentary systems with significantly different traditions - the Australian, Canadian and V7est German - in order to determine the extent to which key variables are system bound or whether and to what degree they are valid beyond national boundaries. Show more