Populists and Referendums in Europe: Dispelling the Myth

Gherghina, Sergiu; Silagadze, Nanuli

doi:10.1111/1467-923x.12934

Cited by 14 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Moreover, authoritarian referendums have been shown to be instrumental in the process of consolidating non-democratic regimes Velasco 2022, 2024). However, empirical studies suggest that the rise of referendums is not necessarily associated with populist values, perceptions, or behaviour (e.g., Gherghina and Silagadze 2020), and some studies highlight that referendums have the potential to enhance inclusive political participation (e.g., Rose and Weßels 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Referendums and political-institutional convergence in European democracies: A time-differencing configurational analysis

Niikawa,

Corcaci

2024

Comp Eur Polit

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This study assesses democratic changes against the background of an increased use of referendums in European parliamentary systems. Existing studies on why referendums have become more frequent argue that it is due to the so-called ‘blurring’ of political alignments aiming to bypass institutional veto players. Which change of conditions is sufficient for a more frequent use of referendums? The proposed domestic conditions do not exclude external reasons, and related studies imply that various combinations of internal and external factors are worth exploring further. Accordingly, in our study we assess the configurations of political-institutional changes by using time-differencing Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). First, we find that democratic convergence leads to multiple explanatory paths for referendum use. Second, the result suggests that explanations with simple majoritarian dynamics are robust compared to other explanations showing convergence. Third, the existence of many veto players combined with economic globalization is identified as an alternative explanation to the convergence toward more frequent referendum use. This study advances referendum and European integration research by highlighting the dynamics of simple majoritarian democratic systems, but also veto players and globalization over time. The results imply that more attention should be given to the configurational nature of an increased rise in referendums in European democracies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Referendums and political-institutional convergence in European democracies: A time-differencing configurational analysis

Niikawa,

Corcaci

2024

Comp Eur Polit

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“…The referendums "gives people the power to control the public will as a distinctive feature of modern democracy" [4,] without being used for populist purposes [5]. Through the local referendum (art.…”

Section: Forms Of Direct Democracy In Local Self-government In the Rementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of globalization on the direct participation of citizens in local self-government in the Republic of Bulgaria

et al. 2021

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Research background: The direct participation of citizens in political decision-making in the state is one of the ways to implement the public relations between the political state represented by the authorities of local self-government and administration. In addition to that, the civil society on behalf of the local inhabitants of the municipalities is also part of this process. Purpose of the article: This report aims to examine which forms of direct democracy are most often applied in the system of local self-government and what is the result of them in view of the economic independence of municipalities. The comparative study covers the periods before and after the signing of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1995 by the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as the periods before and after the accession of our country to the EU in 2007. These two events play a key role in the impact of globalization processes on the direct participation of citizens in local political decision making. Methods: The methodological tools, used in the research, include the comparative analysis and the comparative-legal method. Findings & Value added: The contribution of the research is expressed in tracking the trend in the application of various forms of direct participation of citizens in local government in the Republic of Bulgaria, in outlining the main shortcomings of legal regulations and factors, favoring or hindering the implementation of these forms, and in formulating proposals de lege ferenda to improve existing legislation.

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Populist parties and democracy reforms: a quest for transforming representative democracies?

Silva

2024

Acta Polit

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Populists and Referendums in Europe: Dispelling the Myth

Cited by 14 publications

References 11 publications

Referendums and political-institutional convergence in European democracies: A time-differencing configurational analysis

Referendums and political-institutional convergence in European democracies: A time-differencing configurational analysis

Impact of globalization on the direct participation of citizens in local self-government in the Republic of Bulgaria

Populist parties and democracy reforms: a quest for transforming representative democracies?

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