The Roles of Referendums in Deliberative Systems

Abstract

This paper does not ask to what degree referendums match deliberative democratic criteria, because no institution can. Instead, it asks what roles referendums can play in a deliberative system. It argues that referendums can play constructive roles not just as legitimating tools, but also by providing focusing events that generate salience for everyday narratives of collective life. It also argues that small-scale deliberative processes work better when they are focused on such collective decision making moments.