The Politics of Direct Democracy

by Leduc, Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9781551114330
• ISBN10: 155111433X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 11/1/2003
• Publisher: Univ of Toronto Pr Higher education

Summary

This book aims to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date, survey of direct democratic institutions and devices as they have developed both in the thinking of modern political theorists and in actual political practice in theworld's major democratic nations.

Author Biography

Lawrence LeDuc is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

Tables and Figures	9	(2)
Acknowledgments	11	(2)
Introduction: Understanding Referendums	13	(6)
1 Referendums in Democratic Societies	19	(18)
2 Theoretical, Conceptual, and Procedural Problems	37	(14)
3 Referendums on Constitutional Issues	51	(26)
A Canada's 1992 Constitutional Referendum	52	(6)
B The 1993 Russian Constitutional Referendum	58	(4)
C Electoral Reform in New Zealand	62	(6)
D A Bill of Rights and a Republic? The Australian Constitutional Referendums of 1988 and 1999	68	(9)
4 Referendums on Treaties and International Agreements	77	(24)
A Spain's 1986 Referendum on NATO	79	(4)
B The 1992 French Referendum on the Maastricht Treaty	83	(5)
C The Nordic Referendums on European Union Membership	88	(5)
D Denmark Says "No" Again: The 2000 Referendum on the European Currency	93	(8)
5 Referendums on Sovereignty, National Self-Determination, and Devolution	101	(24)
A The Quebec Sovereignty Referendums	103	(5)
B The 1991 Independence Referendum in Ukraine	108	(2)
C Local Self-Government for Scotland and Wales	110	(6)
D Statehood for Puerto Rico?	116	(9)
6 Referendums on Public Policy Issues	125	(40)
A Sweden's 1980 Referendum on Nuclear Power	127	(4)
B Ireland's Referendums on Divorce and Abortion	131	(6)
C The "California Model"	137	(15)
D Switzerland: Government by Referendum?	152	(13)
7 Citizens, Parties, and Voters	165	(20)
8 The Present and Future of Direct Democracy	185	(8)
References	193	(18)
Index	211