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As the referendum becomes a more regular component of decision making, it leaves few, if any, institutions, processes and values of democracy untouched. Political actors of all kinds - including political parties and interest groups - seek to use the referendum device to further their own objectives. The end result is a different kind of democracy than existed before. This book lays out the comparative research agenda on the impact of referendums on the practice of liberal democracy.
List of contents
Dedication List of Tables List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface Notes on the Contributors PART I: THE RISING USE OF REFERENDUMS Introduction: Referendum Democracy; M.Mendelsohn & A.Parkin Public Opinion and Support for Direct Democracy: A Grassroots Perspective; S.C.Craig, A.Kreppel & J.G.Kane The Rise of Government-Initiated Referendums in Consolidated Democracies; L.Morel PART II: THE IMPACT OF REFERENDUMS ON LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS Political Parties in Direct Democracy; I.Budge Legislative Response to Direct Legislation; E.R.Gerber Amending Constitutions Through the Referendum Device; B.Galligan Popular Control of Referendum Agendas: Implications for Democratic Outcomes and Minority Rights; S.Bowler & T.Donovan The Medium is the Message: How Referendums Lead Us to Understand Equality; A.Eisenberg PART III: THE IMPACT OF REFERENDUMS ON DELIBERATION AND DECISION-MAKING Voters' Decisions in the Nordic EU Referendums of 1994: The Importance of Party Cues; A.T.Jenssen & O.Listhaug Are Voters to Blame? Voter Competence and Elite Manoeuvers in Referendums; A.Lupia & R.Johnston The News Media and Referendums; R.Jenkins & M.Mendelsohn Constitutional Referendums and Democratic Deliberation; S.Chambers Bibliography Index
About the author
SHAUN BOWLER Professor of Political Science, University of California, Riverside
IAN BUDGE Professor of Political Science, University of Essex
SIMONE CHAMBERS Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Colorado
STEPHEN C. CRAIG Professor of Political Science, University of Florida
TODD DONOVAN Associate Professor of Political Science, Western Washington University
AVIGAIL EISENBERG Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia
BRIAN GALLIGAN Professor of Political Science, University of Melbourne
SIMON HUG Lecturer, Department of Political Science, University of Geneva, Switzerland
RICHARD JENKINS Political Studies Department, Queen's University, Ontario
ANDERS TODAL JENSSEN Associate Professor of Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
RICHARD JOHNSTON Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia
JAMES G. KANE Adjunct Professor, Graduate Program in Political Campaigning, University of Florida
AMIE KREPPEL Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Florida
OLA LISTHAUG Professor of Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim
ARTHUR LUPIA Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego
LAURENCE MOREL Lecturer, Institute d'études politiques de Lille, France
Summary
As the referendum becomes a more regular component of decision making, it leaves few, if any, institutions, processes and values of democracy untouched. Political actors of all kinds - including political parties and interest groups - seek to use the referendum device to further their own objectives. The end result is a different kind of democracy than existed before. This book lays out the comparative research agenda on the impact of referendums on the practice of liberal democracy.
Additional text
'[A] beautifully written edited volume on the growing use of referendums around the world and their profound impact on the practice of liberal democratic governments...Written by some of the most well-respected scholars in the field, this theoretically rich volume will meet and exceed your expectations.' - Caroline J. Tolbert, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Kent State University
'...a thoughtful and useful treatment of an important subject that should be valuable for researchers and accessible to students.' - David Stewart, Canadian Journal of Political Science
Report
'[A] beautifully written edited volume on the growing use of referendums around the world and their profound impact on the practice of liberal democratic governments...Written by some of the most well-respected scholars in the field, this theoretically rich volume will meet and exceed your expectations.' - Caroline J. Tolbert, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Kent State University
'...a thoughtful and useful treatment of an important subject that should be valuable for researchers and accessible to students.' - David Stewart, Canadian Journal of Political Science
