Overview

With the rise of direct-democratic instruments, the relationship between popular sovereignty and the rule of law is set to become one of the defining political issues of our time. This important and timely book provides an in-depth analysis of the limits imposed on referendums and citizens’ initiatives, as well as of systems of reviewing compliance with these limits, in 11 European states. Chapters explore and lay the scientific basis for answering crucial questions such as ‘Where should the legal limits of direct democracy be drawn?’ and ‘Who should review compliance with these limits?’ Providing a comparative analysis of the different issues in the selected countries, the book draws out key similarities and differences, as well as an assessment of the law and the practice at national levels when judged against the international standards contained in the Venice Commission’s Guidelines on the Holding of Referendums. Presenting an up-to-date analysis of the relationship between popular sovereignty and the rule of law, The Legal Limits of Direct Democracy will be a key resource for scholars and students in comparative and constitutional law and political science. It will also be beneficial to policy-makers and practitioners in parliaments, governments and election commissions, and experts working for international organisations.

Full Product Details

Author:   Daniel Moeckli ,  Anna Forgács ,  Henri Ibi
Publisher:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Imprint:   Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
ISBN:  

9781800372795

ISBN 10:   1800372795
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   13 July 2021
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Contents: 1 Introduction to The Legal Limits of Direct Democracy 1 Daniel Moeckli PART I THE VENICE COMMISSION’S CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE ON REFERENDUMS 2 The Code of Good Practice on Referendums 11 Pierre Garrone 3 Revision of the Code of Good Practice on Referendums 19 Nicos C. Alivizatos PART II ‘OLD’ EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES 4 Switzerland 24 Daniel Moeckli 5 Liechtenstein 43 Wilfried Marxer 6 Italy 65 Henri Ibi 7 Spain 86 Daniel Simancas 8 France 107 Marthe Fatin-Rouge Stefanini PART III ‘NEW’ EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES 9 Slovenia 135 Bruna Žuber and Igor Kaučič 10 Croatia 155 Robert Podolnjak 11 Slovakia 176 Kamil Baraník 12 Hungary 195 Anna Forgács 13 Latvia 214 Mārtinš Birģelis 14 Russia 236 Julian Ivan Beriger 15 Comparative conclusion 262 Anna Forgács, Henri Ibi and Daniel Moeckli Index

Reviews

'Referendums and popular initiatives have become more frequent in Europe, and also more disruptive for the stability of national political systems. There is a rich political science literature on the promise and risk of direct democracy but the legal literature, so far, tended to be country-specific. The present volume fills a gap in our knowledge by providing an in-depth comparative study of the legal constraints that condition and channel the recourse to instruments of direct democracy. The book covers 11 representative countries of Europe and it also discusses the Europe-wide Code of good practice on referendums adopted by the Venice Commission.'

'Like representative democracy, direct democracy needs the limits of the rule of law to be not only democratic but liberal. A work that fills a void, both precious collection of data on the legal framework of referendums and initiatives in Europe, and proof that direct democracy can and must be something other than the unhindered reign of the popular will - or of political actors who convene it.' -- Laurence Morel, Lille University and Sciences Po Paris, France

Author Information

Edited by Daniel Moeckli, Professor of Public law with a focus on International and Comparative Law, Anna Forgács, PhD Researcher and Henri Ibi, PhD Researcher, Institute for International Law and Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Zurich, Switzerland

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