The politics of referendum use in European democracies
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The politics of referendum use in European democracies
Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
This book demonstrates that the generally assumed dichotomy between referendums and representative democracy does not do justice to the great diversity of referendum types and of how referendums are used in European democracies. Although in all referendums citizens vote directly on issues rather than letting their political representatives do this for them, some referendums are more direct than others. Rather than reflecting the direct power of the People, most referendums in EU countries are held by, and serve the interests of, the political elites, most notably the executive. The book shows that these interests rarely match the justifications given in the public debate. Instead of being driven by the need to compensate for the deficiency of political parties, decision-makers use referendums primarily to protect the position of their party. In unravelling the strategic role played by national referendums in decision-making, this book makes an unconventional contribution to the debate on the impact of referendums on democracy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The Politics of Referendum Use in Europe2. Referendums and Democratic Theory3. Referendums and Institutional Theory4. Referendum Provisions and Use in 28 Countries5. Referendum Practice in France6. Referendum Practice in Denmark7. Referendum Practice in the United Kingdom8. Referendum Practice in Sweden9. Referendum Practice in the Netherlands10. Conclusions: The Drivers of Referendum Use in Europe
by "Nielsen BookData"