search query: @indexterm referendums / total: 10
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| Author: | Bohnet, I. Frey, B.S. |
| Title: | Direct-democratic rules: The role of discussion |
| Journal: | Kyklos
1994 : VOL. 47:3, p. 341-354 |
| Index terms: | DEMOCRACY REFERENDUMS DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH EUROPEAN UNION |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | Refenda and initiatives are hardly considered as democratic devices for a future Europe. Drawing on experimental eviden- ce and empirical findings for Switzerland we argue that direct democracy performs well for the provision of public goods and redistribution as it institutionalizes and channels the political discussion. Institutionalized communication opportunities induce individuals to transform a public decision about some political issue into a private choice and enable the citizens to break the politicians' agenda-setting monopoly: Relevant alternatives are no longer exogenously given in a choice situation but may emerge in a process of deliberation. This process is needed in a future democratic Europe if social dilemmas and redistribution problems are to be solved according to the citizens' preferences. |
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