Kansanäänestysinstituutiot ja käsitykset demokratiasta

Authors

• Maija Setälä

Abstract

According to the populist interpretation, the results of referendums are expected to reflect the will of the majority. This argument, however, may be criticised on the basis of the results of social choice theory which show that the majority will is an ambiguous concept. Moreover, because of the differences between the initiating and agendasetting stages, referendums have a wide variety of functions in representative democracies. Different forms of referendums are classified with respect to their initiating and agenda-setting stages into i) law-controlling referendums ii) ad hoc and optional referendum and iii) popular initiatives. Mandatory and other law-controlling referendums have been adopted as a check on parliamentary majorities and, therefore, they have similarities with multicameralism and supermajority requirements. Popular initiatives have been justified in terms of popular sovereignty and participatory democracy. Ad hoc and optional referendums are typically initiated by governmental coalitions, and they tend to be used to support their policies or position.