Diplomatie parlementaire et « démocratures » : l'Assemblée parlementaire de la Méditerranée et les régimes hybrides après les Printemps arabes

This article analyses the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in the context of hybrid and authoritarian regimes following the Arab Spring. It examines how parliamentary diplomacy has operated in environments marked by democratic fragility, political instability, and contested transitions, focusing on the Assembly’s normative discourse, institutional practices, and political engagement since 2011. Drawing on an analysis of plenary resolutions, parliamentary missions, institutional reports, and political initiatives, the study highlights the ambivalent nature of PAM’s action. While the Assembly has sought to promote democratic norms, human rights, inclusive governance, and political dialogue, its limited coercive capacity and reliance on symbolic and discursive instruments have often constrained its effectiveness. In several cases, parliamentary engagement has contributed more to the symbolic legitimation of hybrid regimes than to substantive democratic consolidation. The article argues that PAM functions as a form of parallel parliamentary diplomacy, enhancing regional dialogue and normative visibility, but remaining structurally exposed to the risk of reinforcing authoritarian stability under the guise of democratic engagement. By examining cases such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the study contributes to broader debates on parliamentary diplomacy, democratic norm diffusion, and the limits of international parliamentary organisations in post-authoritarian and hybrid political contexts within the Euro-Mediterranean space.