1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910465149103321

Autore

Qvortrup Mads

Titolo

Referendums and ethnic conflict / / Matt Qvortrup

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : , : University of Pennsylvania Press, , 2014

©2014

ISBN

0-8122-0932-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (198 pages)

Collana

National and Ethnic Conflict in the 21st Century

Disciplina

328.2/3

Soggetti

Referendum

Ethnic conflict - Political aspects

Ethnic conflict - Government policy

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. The History and Logic of Ethnonational Referendums, 1791–1945 -- Chapter 2. Difference-Managing Referendums -- Chapter 3. Secession and Partition -- Chapter 4. Ethnonational Referendums in Constitutional Law: A Case Study of Scotland -- Chapter 5. Right-Sizing Referendums -- Chapter 6. Difference-Eliminating Referendums: E Pluribus Unum? -- Chapter 7. EU Referendums: Nationalism and the Politics of Supranational Integration -- Chapter 8. Regulation of Ethnonational Referendums: A Comparative Overview -- Conclusion: Patterns and Tendencies in Ethnonational Referendums -- Appendix. Legislation and Litigation -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- Acknowledgments

Sommario/riassunto

Although referendums have been used for centuries to settle ethnonational conflicts, there has yet been no systematic study or generalized theory concerning their effectiveness. Referendums and Ethnic Conflict fills the gap with a comparative and empirical analysis of all the referendums held on ethnic and national issues from the French Revolution to the 2012 referendum on statehood for Puerto Rico. Drawing on political theory and descriptive case studies, Matt Qvortrup creates typologies of referendums that are held to endorse secession, redraw disputed borders, legitimize a policy of homogenization, or



otherwise manage ethnic or national differences. He considers the circumstances that compel politicians to resort to direct democracy, such as regime change, and the conditions that might exacerbate a violent response. Qvortrup offers a clear-eyed assessment of the problems raised when conflict resolution is sought through referendum as well as the conditions that are likely to lead to peaceful outcomes. This original political framework will provide a vital resource in the ongoing investigation into how democracy and nationalism may be reconciled.