Politicians and Foreign Policy
Type de matériel :
68
This article deals with MPs standing as candidates for the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly. It aims to examine the relations between political careers and sector division in parliamentary work. This study is based on a statistical survey of the representatives who were members of the Foreign Affairs Committee between 1997 and 2012. Additional data has been collected from interviews of a sample of representatives sitting on this committee. Representatives specialized in diplomatic matters have a higher number of parliamentary mandates and ministerial positions during their political career. The Foreign Affairs Committee mainly draws politicians who have a long and successful career behind them and who have the necessary skills-set for dealing with foreign policy. The sector division of labor in the National Assembly helps to ensure that high and low politics continue to be distinguishable within the political domain.
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