ASSESSING THE ROLE OF HONORARY CONSULS IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY

Despite the ongoing debate within the scientific community and the absence of consensus on their role and status, the proliferation of honorary consulates remains unabated. In fact, there has been a consistent and gradual increase in the establishment of these consulates over the past several decades. The institution of honorary consulate has been consistently regarded as a valuable asset within the architecture of foreign relations, despite not receiving the same degree of institutional recognition as the career consulate. To the present day, certain states continue to exhibit reluctance towards the establishment of this type of consulates, citing concerns related to, for instance, the loyalty to the country that appointed the honorary consuls. Moreover, although certain scientific articles emphasise their role and significance, quantitative research employing statistical and econometric methods to evaluate the impact of economic diplomacy on trade or investments frequently excludes honorary consulates from their models. Such research focuses on actors such as diplomatic missions. It is evident that there is a correlation between honorary consulates and economic and commercial activities; however, the question remains as to what extent this correlation is indeed a cause of tangible impact. The present article thus examines the evolving role of honorary consuls, with particular attention to their contribution to trade facilitation, the attraction of investments, and the promotion of national companies. These activities are encompassed within the spectrum of economic diplomacy. The present study adopts a literature review as its methodological approach, reviewing the extant literature on the topic of honorary consulates. The primary objective is to undertake a thorough examination of the extant literature pertinent to the subject, with a view to elucidating the contribution of these actors to the practice of economic diplomacy. The findings indicate that the establishment of honorary consulates is of particular benefit to small states, as it facilitates the enhancement of bilateral relations. Despite ongoing debates and reluctance to establish honorary consulates, this paper argues that the institution remains a relevant instrument of diplomacy, particularly for states with limited resources. Given the limited academic engagement with this topic, this review maps the existing research and provides a foundation for further empirical and theoretical studies into the evolving role of honorary consulates in contemporary international economic relations.