The Strategic Use of Government-Sponsored Referendums in Contemporary Europe: Issues and Implications

Abstract:
Referenda, especially those which are not constitutionally mandated, have often been used strategically in the context of both democratic and non-democratic regimes by political actors wishing to achieve specific goals. Engaging with the extant literature on the subject, this article analyses four government-sponsored referendums which took place between 2015 and 2016 in Greece, Britain, Hungary and Italy.

The focus of the analysis is twofold. The first purpose is to debunk the political risk calculation underpinning the government’s decision to sponsor a referendum in each of the cases considered. The second is to suggest that the strategic use of referendum by governments in contemporary Europe can be better understood if read in light of the recent upsurge of populist movements.

Further information

The JCER is an open-access journal published by the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES) in association with the UACES Student Forum.

The JCER invites submissions from scholars who are experts in any subject area delivering analysis that relates to Europe. This includes, but is not limited to, Politics/International Relations, Area Studies, European Integration, Economics, Law, History, Culture and Learning & Teaching. The journal publishes the work of established academics alongside that of PhD students and early career researchers.

• Primary Source

Jacques Delors Institute [Notre Europe], 2017: National Referendums on EU Issues: from Clarification to Frustration http://www.europeansources.info/record/national-referendums-on-eu-issues-from-clarification-to-frustration/

JCER, Vol.13, No.4 (2017): Complete Issue https://www.jcer.net/index.php/jcer/issue/view/52

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, January 2017: Referendums on EU Matters http://www.europeansources.info/record/referendums-on-eu-matters/

European Business Law Review, Vol.28, No.6, 2017: European Union and national referendums: need for change after the Brexit vote? http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-union-and-national-referendums-need-for-change-after-the-brexit-vote/

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