{"product_id":"government-by-referendum-paperback","title":"Government by Referendum - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMatt Qvortrup\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReferendums are ubiquitous; from Brexit in the United Kingdom in 2016 to same-sex marriage in Australia in 2017 Why are referendums held at all? And when they are held, why are they won or lost? Moreover, what are the consequences of having referendums? Do they strengthen or weaken democracy? Are they mainly won or mainly lost or do they strengthen populist leaders? Or, are referendums a shield against demagogues and overeager politicians? Government by Referendum analyses why politicians sometime submit issues to the people Based on an historical analysis, but with an emphasis on the last two decades, the book shows that referendums often have been lost by powerful politicians. While sometimes used by autocrats, mechanisms of direct democracy have increasingly performed the function of democratic constitutional safeguards in developed democracies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFront Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eReferendums are familiar events across the modern political landscape, from Brexit in 2016 to the same-sex marriage postal ballot in Australia in 2017. Across the European Union controversial issues have faced the voters in Hungary, Italy and Turkey. Often these votes resulted in spectacular defeats for the ruling parties and have prompted the resignations of both David Cameron and Mateo Renzi. At other times, as in the cases of Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, such referendums serve to bolster their governments. This book asks why governments risk their position in the face of uncertain odds and whether referendums strengthen or weaken democracy. Covering the history of referendums since the Middle Ages, this book explains why politicians submit issues to the people and why they sometimes miscalculate the outcome. \u003ci\u003eGovernment by referendum\u003c\/i\u003e questions if referendums, far from being a populist device (and contrary to popular belief), have actually performed the function of a democratic constitutional safeguard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReferendums are familiar events across the modern political landscape, from Brexit in 2016 to the same-sex marriage postal ballot in Australia in 2017. Across the European Union controversial issues have faced the voters in Hungary, Italy and Turkey. Often these votes resulted in spectacular defeats for the ruling parties and have prompted the resignations of both David Cameron and Mateo Renzi. At other times, as in the cases of Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, such referendums serve to bolster their governments. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis book asks why governments risk their position in the face of uncertain odds and whether referendums strengthen or weaken democracy. Covering the history of referendums since the Middle Ages, this book explains why politicians submit issues to the people and why they sometimes miscalculate the outcome. \u003ci\u003eGovernment by referendum\u003c\/i\u003e questions if referendums, far from being a populist device (and contrary to popular belief), have actually performed the function of a democratic constitutional safeguard.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatt Qvortrup is Professor of Political Science at Coventry University and James Walston Chair of International Relations at the American University of Rome\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 112\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.4 x 7.6 x 5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 14, 2018\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46397116121171,"sku":"9781526130037","price":34.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.prepare-ready.com\/products\/government-by-referendum-paperback","provider":"shop.prepare-ready.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}