Synopses & Reviews
Referendums and Democratic Government deals with the role of different forms of referendums in modern representative democracies. It analyzes the referendum from the point of view of social choice theory and various theories of democracy. The institutions of referendums are analyzed in 22 democracies, and referendums in Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland are analyzed as case studies. Different forms of referendums are classified according to how they are initiated and how their agenda is set. It is argued that various types of referendums have been justified by arguments based on different normative theories of democracy as referendum is not a unitary phenomenon.
Synopsis
Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: THEORIES OF REFERENDUM Referendum and the Will of the Majority Referendum and Theories of Democracy PART II: ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONS Referendum in Representative Government Referendum in Three Counties Conclusions Appendices Bibliography
Synopsis
Referendums and Democratic Government is the most systematic analysis of the referendum so far. The referendum phenomenon is approached from different perspectives: social choice theory, theories of democracy, a comparative study on 22 democracies, and in-depth case studies of Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland. The referendum is not a unitary phenomenon but it serves various functions and different normative goals in the political systems studied. This variation may largely be explained by the differences in the initiating and agenda-setting procedures.
Synopsis
A systematic study on the role of different forms of referendums in modern, representative democracies.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-196) and index.
About the Author
Maija Setälä is with the Department of Political Science at the University of Turku, Finland.
Table of Contents
Introduction *
Part I: Theories of Referendum * Referendum and the Will of the Majority * Referendum and Theories of Democracy *
Part II: Analysis of Institutions * Referendum in Representative Government * Referendum in Three Countries * Conclusions * Index
Introduction * Part I: Theories of Referendum * Referendum and the Will of the Majority * Referendum and Theories of Democracy * Part II: Analysis of Institutions * Referendum in Representative Government * Referendum in Three Countries * Conclusions * Index