Cristina Leston-Bandeira is a Senior Lecturer in Legislative Studies at the University of Hull.

• 1. Introduction: Studying the Relationship between Parliament and Citizens 2. The Finnish Eduskunta: Still the Nordic ‘Vatican’? 3. Far Away, So Close: Parliament and Citizens in France 4. The Bundestag and German Citizens: More Communication, Growing Distance 5. The Paradoxes of Parliament–Citizen Connections in Hungary: A Window on the Political System 6. Parliament and Citizens in Italy: An Unfilled Gap 7. A Least Likely Case: Parliament and Citizens in the Netherlands 8. Developing Links Despite the Parties – Parliament and Citizens in Portugal 9. Parliament and Citizens in the United Kingdom 10. Parliaments and Citizens in Sub-Saharan Africa 11. Parliaments and Citizens in Latin America 12. Parliament and Citizens in Asia: The Bangladesh Case 13. Do Legislative Petitions Systems Enhance the Relationship between Parliament and Citizen? 14. How Are Parliaments Using New Media to Engage with Citizens? 15. Conclusion: Parliaments’ Endless Pursuit of Trust: Re-focusing on Symbolic Representation

Cristina Leston-Bandeira is a Senior Lecturer in Legislative Studies at the University of Hull.

• 1. Introduction: Studying the Relationship between Parliament and Citizens 2. The Finnish Eduskunta: Still the Nordic ‘Vatican’? 3. Far Away, So Close: Parliament and Citizens in France 4. The Bundestag and German Citizens: More Communication, Growing Distance 5. The Paradoxes of Parliament–Citizen Connections in Hungary: A Window on the Political System 6. Parliament and Citizens in Italy: An Unfilled Gap 7. A Least Likely Case: Parliament and Citizens in the Netherlands 8. Developing Links Despite the Parties – Parliament and Citizens in Portugal 9. Parliament and Citizens in the United Kingdom 10. Parliaments and Citizens in Sub-Saharan Africa 11. Parliaments and Citizens in Latin America 12. Parliament and Citizens in Asia: The Bangladesh Case 13. Do Legislative Petitions Systems Enhance the Relationship between Parliament and Citizen? 14. How Are Parliaments Using New Media to Engage with Citizens? 15. Conclusion: Parliaments’ Endless Pursuit of Trust: Re-focusing on Symbolic Representation

Cristina Leston-Bandeira is a Senior Lecturer in Legislative Studies at the University of Hull.

• 1. Introduction: Studying the Relationship between Parliament and Citizens 2. The Finnish Eduskunta: Still the Nordic ‘Vatican’? 3. Far Away, So Close: Parliament and Citizens in France 4. The Bundestag and German Citizens: More Communication, Growing Distance 5. The Paradoxes of Parliament–Citizen Connections in Hungary: A Window on the Political System 6. Parliament and Citizens in Italy: An Unfilled Gap 7. A Least Likely Case: Parliament and Citizens in the Netherlands 8. Developing Links Despite the Parties – Parliament and Citizens in Portugal 9. Parliament and Citizens in the United Kingdom 10. Parliaments and Citizens in Sub-Saharan Africa 11. Parliaments and Citizens in Latin America 12. Parliament and Citizens in Asia: The Bangladesh Case 13. Do Legislative Petitions Systems Enhance the Relationship between Parliament and Citizen? 14. How Are Parliaments Using New Media to Engage with Citizens? 15. Conclusion: Parliaments’ Endless Pursuit of Trust: Re-focusing on Symbolic Representation