Referendums around the world

Chapter 1: Referendums: Theory and History: Matt Qvortrup -- Chapter 2: Europe: Matt Qvortrup -- Chapter 3: Asia: Osbern Huang and Matt Qvortrup -- Chapter 4: North America and the Caribbean: Todd Donovan and Matt Qvortrup -- Chapter 5: Oceania: Kerryn Baker, Caroline Morris, and Matt Qvortrup -- Chapter 6: Africa: Norbert Kersting -- Chapter 7: Latin America: David Altman -- Chapter 8: Switzerland: Uwe Serdült -- Chapter 9: Referendums Around the World: Trends and Tendencies: Matt Qvortrup.

Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Editors and Contributors -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1 Introduction: Theory, Practice and History -- Theory -- Britain -- Germany and the Continent -- Practice -- References -- Chapter 2 Western Europe -- Legal Provisions for Referendums in Western Europe -- Why Are Referendums Held? -- When Are Referendums Won? -- The Effect of Referendums -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 3 Switzerland -- The Origins of Swiss Direct Democracy -- Mechanisms of Direct Democracy at the National Level -- 1848-the Mandatory Constitutional Referendum and the Citizens' Initiative for a Total Revision of the Constitution -- 1874 the Optional Legislative Referendum -- 1891 the Citizens' Initiative for Partial Revision of the Constitution and the Counter-Proposal by Parliament -- The Optional and Mandatory Treaty Referendums -- 1949 Mandatory and Optional Referendums in the Case of Urgent Decrees -- 2003 the 'General Initiative' -- Voting Channels -- Who Is Allowed to Vote? -- Mechanisms of Direct Democracy at the Cantonal Level -- Europeanization and Globalization -- Participation -- Direct Democracy Campaigns -- Functions and Effects of Direct Democracy -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4 Russia, the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe -- The Referendum in Communist Experience -- Poland, November 1987 -- Soviet Union, March 1991 -- The Referendum in the Transition from Communism -- The Referendum in the Post-Soviet World -- Central European Democracies -- Patterns -- References -- Chapter 5 North America and the Caribbean -- History -- Populists Versus Progressives -- Rules for Using Referendums and Initiatives in the US -- Rules for Using Referendums and Initiatives in Canada -- Use of Referendums and Initiatives in Canada

Surveying all referendums around the world since 1793, Dr Qvortrup and contributors provide a thorough account of why and when citizens have been asked to vote on policy issues. Referendums Around the World is essential reading for political scientists and others interested in direct democracy as well as representative government

"Referendums Around the World is a ground breaking empirical study. A successor to David Butler and Austin Ranney's classic, the present volume surveys all referendums held worldwide since since 1793. Unlike its predecessor, in this edition, Dr Qvortrup and a cast of outstanding contributors provide a thorough account of the pros and cons of referendums, the reason why politicians have submitted issues to referendums and the consequences of letting the people decide. Covering countries and regimes ranging from developed democracies to autocratic regimes, the book is a tour de force of referendums written by some of the world's foremost experts on the subject"--