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.

One of the world's leading experts in referendums, Qvortrup provides a timely, intensively researched account of the history, practice, and theory of referendums on national issues. The book presents a state-of-the-art political science analysis of issues pertaining to democracy and national self-determination.

About the Author
Called "a world authority on referendums" by the Financial Times, Matt Qvortrup is Senior Lecturer of Comparative Politics at the Center for International Security and Resilience at Cranfield University and Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Contemporary British History at King's College London.

Reviews
"A most impressive and crucially important contribution to the comparative and historical study of nationalism and democracy." * Arend Lijphart, former President of the American Political Science Association *
"A valuable and comprehensive study of a much-too-neglected subject, both for democratic theory and for conflict management." * Donald L. Horowitz, Duke University *



Book Information
ISBN 9780812245806
Author Matt Qvortrup
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint University of Pennsylvania Press
Publisher University of Pennsylvania Press