• Democratisation

Democratisation

Representative democracy is being reformed and modernised throughout the world. An increasing numbers of countries in the world have begun to use referendums in addition to elections. More and more people now have the possibility of exerting an influence on the political agenda by means of a right of initiative. Existing indirect decision-making structures are being revitalised and given greater legitimacy by the addition of direct-democratic procedures and practice. This guide book discusses the effects of direct-democratic elements on the decision-making process and explores whether this form of democracy is suitable in other contexts. It notes that modern direct democracy, well established in Switzerland, is not the same as classical assembly democracy. In direct democracy citizens have the right to directly decide on substantive political issues by means of popular votes i.e. independently of the wishes of the government or parliament, on their own initiative or as a mandatory provision prescribed by the constitution.

The two main pillars of direct democracy are the popular initiative and the referendum.

• The popular initiative allows a minority of the voters to place an issue of their own choosing on the political agenda and to have it decided by referendum. Eligible voters thus have the right to participate directly in legislation, regardless of whether the government or parliament likes it or not. The popular initiative gives citizens the chance to accelerate political development and to introduce reforms.
• Popular referendum serves as an instrument to control government and parliament, and gives citizens the chance to apply the brakes. It gives a minority of eligible voters the right to force a referendum on a decision passed by parliament.

Two essential criterions for a direct democracy are:

• Direct democracy decides on substantive issues, not on people.
• Direct democracy gives citizens decision-making power – direct-democratic procedures are procedures for power sharing i.e. direct democracy empowers citizens.

The benefits of a direct democracy are:

• It reinforces the principle of equal participation in politics, brings politicians and citizens closer together and lends a new quality to their relationship.
• Direct democracy gives minorities the right to a public hearing and the opportunity to exercise that right, reducing the risk of people resorting to violence in cases of conflict. It acts as a sensor for unresolved social problems and conflicts, increases the legitimacy of political decisions and furthers social integration.
• The exercise of direct democratic rights reinforces the democratic attitudes and dispositions of the citizens and thus makes it more likely that human rights will be protected and preserved.
• Direct democracy gives citizens more effective control of governments and parliaments, allowing them independent influence.
• Direct democracy helps to prevent the political institutions from shutting themselves off from the “outside world”.
• Direct democracy makes politics more communicative and political decisions more transparent, and improves the quality of the public sphere.
• Well-developed direct democracy puts procedures and rights in the hands of citizens which allow them to go beyond mere resistance, to offer constructive challenge and innovation.
• Direct democracy is a means for increasing the institutional legitimacy of the entire political system.

The paper argues that the positive effects of direct democracy are not given, but are conditioned by numerous factors. In order to function properly and fulfil its potential, direct democracy has to be well-designed and carefully implemented. Also, if the fundamental conditions for democracy are not met, if the public and the political parties are not prepared to hold to the principle of democracy, then direct-democratic procedures will not be able to function, no matter how well-designed they are.

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