THE FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF THE REFERENDUM

In: European journal of political research: official journal of the European Consortium for Political Research, Band 4, Heft 1, S. 1-23

Abstract

THIS ARTICILE OUTLINES A WAY IN WHICH THE WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE OF THE REFERENDUM IN WESTERN EUROPE CAN BE BROUGHT TOGETHER BY MEANS OF A "FUNCTIONAL" APPROACH. TWO IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES APPEAR TO BE: THE DEGREE OF "CONTROL" EXERCISED BY THE POLITICAL AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL HEGEMONIC EFFECT AS SEEN IN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE REFERENDUM.