Parliament and International Relations - Charles Carstairs

This book describes, both in theory and by means of close case studies, how Parliament works in the field of foreign affairs. It may be a source of information for students of British politics and international relations.;Foreign policy is formally a prerogative matter - ie ministers act on behalf of the Crown in their dealings with foreign countries and are not obliged to consult Parliament - and some MPs give the impression of being entirely preoccupied with domestic problems. Nonetheless, Parliament does scrutinize foreign policy and can itself play a part in international relations. A great deal of parliamentary activity goes on behind the scenes. Moreover, when a crisis erupts, the government of the day has to convince Parliament that it has acted correctly. British foreign policy may eventually merge fully into a European foreign policy monitored by the European Parliament, but that day has not yet come and Parliament still has the right to call British ministers to explain and account for their international behaviour.