The basis for this volume is the problematization of the parliamentarism related to globalization and European integration. Research in this field requires new perspectives. The articles in this volume are examples of just such an endeavour. They view parliamentarism as a specific style of politics, the main characteristic of which is speaking for and against. The volume provides general discussions of the role of speech and persuasion in parliamentary politics and examines the use of the rhetorical paradigm in different historical contexts.