Referendums Around the World (3^rd Ed., 3rd ed. 2024)

Direct Democracy is inexpensive. The average cost per vote is about $ 10. So, maybe we should have more of them? Before you answer that question, you need to know the facts about this type of complementary democracy. Referendums Around the World, is a complete and comprehensive revision of the  2016 edition of Referendums Around the World, which in turn was an updated version of the 2013 edition, the proposed volume is a comprehensive revision and update of the previous book.

The previous edition provided overviews of the history, legal basis, and practice of referendums around the world, with chapters on, Africa, Australia, Asia Latin America, Europe, and a special chapter on Switzerland (the sui generis of referendums). In addition, this third edition offers a completely revised introduction by the editor, a wholly revised concluding chapter by the editor, a special chapter on winning referendums including perspectives from neuroscience, as well as a list of all nationwide referendums held to date. 

1.     Introduction: History, Law, and the Practice of Referendums

3.     Switzerland

4.     Asia

5.     Africa

6.     North America

8.     Oceania

9.     Concluding Chapter

10.  Appendix A: List of Nationwide Referendums 1793-2022.

11.  Appendix B: Constitutional Provisions for referendums around the world.

Matt Qvortrup, DPhil (Oxon) is Professor of Political Science and an Adjunct Professor of Constitutional Law at the Australian National University. His books include, A Comparative Study of Referendums (2nd Edition 2005) and Referendums and Ethnic Conflict (2nd Edition 2022).

Offers an exhaustive and global account of referendums to date

Continues the legacy of David Butler’s and Austin Ranney’s Referendums Around the World (1994)

Proves to be a timely reference work for interested readers in the wake of the recent referendums