Possibilities of referenda in the systems of consociational democracy

Abstract

The paper analyzes the possibilities of referenda in consociational democracies. According to Arend Lijphart, democratic systems can be divided into majoritarian and consociational. Referendum is commonly understood as a mechanism of the people's direct decision-making based on the majoritarian principle. This paper analyzes what qualities the referendum must possess in order to be compatible with the system of consociational democracy. The term consociational democracy applies to systems in which the society is divided on multiple grounds, in such a way that the majority of interests are satisfied while preserving the institutional shape and logic of this mechanism of direct decision-making. The analysis includes the consideration of all issues of relevance to the divided societies, in the theoretical and practical sense.

Keywords

• referendum
• consociational democracy
• deliberation
• clarity of the referendum question
• referendum majority