Referendums and Ethnic Conflict (National and Ethnic Conflict in the 21st Century)

Synopsis

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 -- 1. The History And Logic Of Ethnonational Referendums, 1791-1945 -- 2. Difference-managing Referendums -- 3. Secession And Partition -- 4. Ethnonational Referendums In Constitutional Law: A Case Study Of Scotland -- 5. Right-sizing Referendums -- 6. Difference-eliminating Referendums: E Pluribus Unum? -- 7. Eu Referendums: Nationalism And The Politics Of Supranational Integration -- 8. Regulation Of Ethnonational Referendums: A Comparative Overview -- Conclusion. Patterns And Tendencies In Ethnonational Referendums -- Appendix. Legislation And Litigation. Matt Qvortrup. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.