Regionalism, Foreign Policy and Executive/Legislative Relations: Mercosur and the European Union in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Abstract In a globalized world, Legislative control over matters related to Mercosur and the European Union (EU) is important. However, its importance varies according to Regional Foreign Policy (RFP) decisions. This article investigates whether there are configurations, considering institutional design, political conditions, and economic factors, which explain the intensity of legislative participation in determining such matters. Specialists were consulted to select five decisions that represented significant changes for the regional dynamics of Mercosur and EU member countries. After defining the intentional sample of cases, necessary and sufficient conditions for the participation of the Legislature in RFP were identified through a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The results indicate that institutional design and economic factors matter, but prior debates in Parliaments on the subject are also relevant to explaining legislative action. This was corroborated by a Coincidence Analysis (CNA) that demonstrated that this variable makes up the causal chain of participation.

Keywords

• regional foreign policy
• qualitative comparative analysis
• legislative
• Mercosur
• European Union