Despite the curiosity it arouses in political circles, international parliamentarism has never yet been dealt with by academic researchers, probably because it is such a new field. This appraisal explores the era of globalization and the institutional frameworks to which it has given rise, with attention to how the geostrategic context is changing and outlining potential future developments. The key question about these new parliamentary structures is what their future function will be in a political process which is no longer restricted to the national sphere but now takes place on a global scale.--Publisher's description.