Government by Referendum - Paperback

by Matt Qvortrup (Author)

Referendums are ubiquitous; from Brexit in the United Kingdom in 2016 to same-sex marriage in Australia in 2017 Why are referendums held at all? And when they are held, why are they won or lost? Moreover, what are the consequences of having referendums? Do they strengthen or weaken democracy? Are they mainly won or mainly lost or do they strengthen populist leaders? Or, are referendums a shield against demagogues and overeager politicians? Government by Referendum analyses why politicians sometime submit issues to the people Based on an historical analysis, but with an emphasis on the last two decades, the book shows that referendums often have been lost by powerful politicians. While sometimes used by autocrats, mechanisms of direct democracy have increasingly performed the function of democratic constitutional safeguards in developed democracies.

Front Jacket

Referendums are familiar events across the modern political landscape, from Brexit in 2016 to the same-sex marriage postal ballot in Australia in 2017. Across the European Union controversial issues have faced the voters in Hungary, Italy and Turkey. Often these votes resulted in spectacular defeats for the ruling parties and have prompted the resignations of both David Cameron and Mateo Renzi. At other times, as in the cases of Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, such referendums serve to bolster their governments. This book asks why governments risk their position in the face of uncertain odds and whether referendums strengthen or weaken democracy. Covering the history of referendums since the Middle Ages, this book explains why politicians submit issues to the people and why they sometimes miscalculate the outcome. Government by referendum questions if referendums, far from being a populist device (and contrary to popular belief), have actually performed the function of a democratic constitutional safeguard.

Back Jacket

Referendums are familiar events across the modern political landscape, from Brexit in 2016 to the same-sex marriage postal ballot in Australia in 2017. Across the European Union controversial issues have faced the voters in Hungary, Italy and Turkey. Often these votes resulted in spectacular defeats for the ruling parties and have prompted the resignations of both David Cameron and Mateo Renzi. At other times, as in the cases of Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, such referendums serve to bolster their governments.

This book asks why governments risk their position in the face of uncertain odds and whether referendums strengthen or weaken democracy. Covering the history of referendums since the Middle Ages, this book explains why politicians submit issues to the people and why they sometimes miscalculate the outcome. Government by referendum questions if referendums, far from being a populist device (and contrary to popular belief), have actually performed the function of a democratic constitutional safeguard.

Author Biography

Matt Qvortrup is Professor of Political Science at Coventry University and James Walston Chair of International Relations at the American University of Rome