Open AccessComparative Solutions of Referendum Democracy Concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina
Author(s) -
Mirsad Čizmić,
Aida Čizmić
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
društvene i humanističke studije
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2490-3647
pISSN - 2490-3604
DOI - 10.51558/2490-3647.2022.7.1.395
Subject(s) - referendum , direct democracy , democracy , ballot , political science , politics , representative democracy , order (exchange) , political economy , public administration , law , law and economics , sociology , economics , voting , finance
The authors consider the referendum as the most pronounced form of direct democracy, which is direct decision-making where citizens express themselves by direct and secret ballot on a particular issue. It is not a substitute for representative democracy, but its corrective factor. In this paper, the authors give a systematic overview of good practice of referendums as an instrument of direct democracy, primarily in Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Serbia, Slovenia, Germany, USA, UK, etc., but also the place of referendum democracy in the legal order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The authors will try to show that a referendum in some of these countries can be a great democratic step forward, but that it can often be not only an instrument for direct will but a negation of direct democracy in several cases. In support of this claim, the authors will point out the legal and political aspects of conducting the referendum.