Introduction

In an era where digitalisation rapidly transforms various aspects of our lives, public institutions, particularly parliaments, are not exempted from this wave of change. Modernisation through digital transformation has a profound impact on parliamentary work from administrative, operational, and representational perspectives. Among these transformations, Parliamentary Diplomacy, the exchange of ideas, principles, and practices among legislative bodies, is playing an increasingly pivotal role in steering legislative modernisation. Through collaboration and peer exchange, parliaments worldwide are discovering innovative ways to serve their citizens more effectively.

Understanding Parliamentary Diplomacy

Parliamentary diplomacy is an evolving concept that can be broadly understood as the act of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from different countries coming together, building relationships, discussing issues, and topics of mutual interest to their respective parliaments. It’s through these dialogues, a process of developing goals and articulating potential actions that joint commitments often arise.

These joint commitments, often framed as resolutions or declarations, serve as instruments for parliamentarians and parliaments to reference, motivate action, and institutionalise follow-up at a national level. Thus, making a commitment at a regional or international level can help create a sense of mutual accountability, fostering a sense of common goal and purpose, driving action, and institutionalising follow-up at the national level.

The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Legislative Modernisation

Legislative modernisation is the application of new technologies, practices, and procedures to improve the function and efficacy of parliamentary systems. This modernisation is vital to meet the evolving needs of citizens and ensure democratic processes remain relevant, transparent, and accountable.

Parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in this modernisation process. Through the sharing of practices, guiding progress, and encouraging actions among themselves, national parliaments have been able to collectively manage and innovate parliaments by applying an open parliament model.

For instance, a core group of Latin American parliaments have collaborated through parliamentary diplomacy to create a supportive and coordinated community, addressing issues of common concern affecting the hemisphere. This collaboration led to the establishment of an inter-parliamentary organisation governed by the national parliaments of the Americas and the Caribbean in 2001.

The establishment of this inter-parliamentary organisation has had a profound impact on legislative modernisation. It led to the creation of the Open Parliament Network, a permanent forum for continuous discussion and diplomacy among both legislators and legislative staff from across the hemisphere. This network serves to guide their work and ensure action is being taken at a national level through a co-creation process with civil society organisations from across the hemisphere.

The Power of Digital Transformation

The advent of digital transformation has opened new avenues for parliamentary diplomacy and, by extension, legislative modernisation. Parliaments are now able to leverage digital tools and platforms for increased transparency, accountability, citizen participation, ethics, and integrity.

The Open Parliament Network, for example, has developed a roadmap towards legislative openness, a compilation of objectives and good practices designed to inspire and guide parliaments on a pathway to strengthen and modernise parliaments using digital tools and platforms.

Considerations for Inclusive Modernisation

While the use of digital tools is significantly enhancing parliamentary processes, it is essential to consider how these tools can be used to foster greater inclusivity within parliaments. For instance, the use of technology allowing for virtual participation in committee work and parliamentary sittings could potentially increase access and participation in parliamentary work by persons who may not ordinarily have access to these spaces.

The Intersection of Digital Transformation and Inclusivity

A hybrid model of parliament offers the potential for greater participation from individuals who are often underrepresented in parliamentary work. For instance, women who typically shoulder a greater proportion of domestic responsibilities may find the flexibility of digital participation more conducive to their participation in legislative work. Similarly, individuals at earlier stages of their careers or those living in remote or rural areas, who might find it challenging to relocate for parliamentary work, may also find digital participation more accessible.

Moreover, digital tools can help promote greater inclusivity by making parliamentary work more transparent and accessible to the general public. They can facilitate public access to legislative documents, voting records, and committee proceedings, thereby increasing the transparency of parliamentary work. Such transparency not only strengthens the accountability of parliamentarians but also enhances the public’s trust in the parliamentary system.

Furthermore, digital platforms can provide opportunities for citizens to engage more directly in legislative work. For example, parliaments could use online platforms to solicit public input on proposed legislation or to facilitate public participation in committee hearings. Such direct engagement can make parliamentary work more responsive to the needs and concerns of the citizens, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of parliamentary decisions.

Harnessing the Potential of Parliamentary Diplomacy for Inclusive Modernisation

Parliamentary diplomacy can play a crucial role in promoting inclusive modernisation. Through the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, parliaments can learn from each other’s experiences in using digital tools to promote inclusivity. Such sharing can help parliaments avoid potential pitfalls and make the most of the opportunities that digital transformation offers.

At the same time, the commitments made through parliamentary diplomacy can help to drive action towards inclusive modernisation at the national level. These commitments can serve as a benchmark for national parliaments to measure their progress and as a tool for civil society organisations to hold parliaments accountable for their commitments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, parliamentary diplomacy is a powerful tool for driving legislative modernisation in the digital age. It facilitates the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among parliaments, thereby helping to guide progress towards more effective, accountable, and inclusive parliamentary systems. At the same time, the commitments made through parliamentary diplomacy can serve as a powerful driver of action towards inclusive modernisation at the national level. As parliaments navigate the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation, parliamentary diplomacy will remain a vital tool in their efforts to serve their citizens more effectively.