The Limits and Legitimacy of Referendums

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Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The potential for referendums to both enhance and undermine democracy presents a paradoxical dilemma. While democratic mechanisms can be manipulated to violate the core principles of democracy, the Limits and Legitimacy of Referendums aims to establish criteria for assessing the democratic legitimacy of a referendum when traditional liberal democratic norms are unreliable. This groundbreaking book delves into the intricate dynamics between liberalism and democracy, exploring whether referendums hold the potential to reconcile these two conflicting commitments. A diverse array of scholars from across the globe shed light on how referendums can be misused for short-term political or personal gains, as well as how they can aspire to embody the finest traditions of deliberative, innovative, and democracy-enhancing popular decision-making. Structured around three central questions, this book seeks to identify the factors that make a referendum legitimate. Firstly, it examines the increasing prevalence of referendums on issues of fundamental political significance worldwide. Secondly, it explores the identity of the individuals or groups responsible for making decisions about the future of a political community. Lastly, it assesses the effectiveness and reliability of referendums as mechanisms of popular sovereignty or democratic choice. These essays, written for scholars, public lawyers, political actors, and citizens, offer diverse perspectives on referendums, constitutionalism, liberalism, and democracy, challenging prevailing notions and prompting new insights into enduring questions. They also urge a reevaluation of our approach to assessing the legitimacy of referendums.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198867647