Ref. 28 - Referendums in constitutional democracies
Scientific-Disciplinary Group
12/GIUR-05 - Constitutional And Public Law
Description
Referendums are a fundamental tool for giving “shape” to popular sovereignty, but the value of popular decisions in a “political democracy” is unclear. The Italian Constitution, which recognises the regulatory and consultative functions of referendums, leaves undefined the “follow-up” to decisions taken in abrogative referendums with regard to political bodies. In practice, other functions of referendums are emerging, such as “polls” or “alternatives” to representation. Referendums can have an impact at every level of power organisation, but the outcome seems to be very different when moving from the local to the national and European levels. Returning to an in-depth examination of the theoretical reasons and experiences of referendums, including from a comparative perspective, can provide interpreters with new perspectives that are useful in a context of “crisis” in political democracies and growth of electoral “abstentionism".
Number of positions
1
How to apply
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