Citizens' Initiatives in Europe: Procedures and Consequences of Agenda-Setting by Citizens (Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century)

An exploration and analysis of the regulation and practices of citizens' initiatives in eleven European democracies and the EU. The contributors to this volume shed light on how citizens' initiatives influence patterns of political agenda-setting in representative democracies and how they can contribute to participatory democracy. The contributors to this edited volume analyze and compare different kinds of citizens' initiatives, including both full scale initiatives and agenda initiatives, in eleven European democracies and the EU. The book provides a comprehensive account of the practices of citizens' initiatives in each case, including a description of the historical background of the citizens' initiatives and the political system in which they operate. Particular attention is paid to the institutional design of citizens' initiatives which largely explains how they function in different political contexts. Citizens Initiatives in Europe sheds light on issues relevant to democracy, for example, how citizens' initiatives influence patterns of political agenda-setting in representative democracies and how they contribute to the aspirations of participatory democracy The Contributors To This Edited Volume Analyze And Compare Different Kinds Of Citizens' Initiatives, Including Both Full Scale Initiatives And Agenda Initiatives, In Eleven European Democracies And The Eu. The Book Provides A Comprehensive Account Of The Practices Of Citizens' Initiatives In Each Case, Including A Description Of The Historical Background Of The Citizens' Initiatives And The Political System In Which They Operate. Particular Attention Is Paid To The Institutional Design Of Citizens' Initiatives Which Largely Explains How They Function In Different Political Contexts. Citizens Initiatives In Europe Sheds Light On Issues Relevant To Democracy, For Example, How Citizens' Initiatives Influence Patterns Of Political Agenda-setting In Representative Democracies And How They Contribute To The Aspirations Of Participatory Democracy. Introduction; T. Schiller And M. Set̃l̃ -- Part I: Practices Of Full-scale Initiatives -- Switzerland: Citizens' Initiatives As A Measure To Control The Political Agenda; G. Lutz -- Initiatives In Liechtenstein -- Safety Valve In A Complex System Of Government; W. Marxer -- An Electoral Tactic? Citizens' Initiatives In Post-soviet Latvia; D. Auers -- Part Ii: Systems Mixing Different Types Of Initiatives -- Institutions Of Citizens' Political Participation In Italy: Crooked Forms, Hindered Institutionalization; P. Uleri -- Initiative Instruments In Germany 6 Variations In Regional States; T. Schiller -- Citizens' Initiative In Hungary: An Additional Opportunity For Power-sharing In An Extremely Majoritarian System; Z.t.p̀llinger -- Citizens' Initiative In Lithuania: Initiative Institutions And Their Political Impact In A New Democracy; A. Krupavicius -- If It Works, Fine, If Not, So What? Initiatives In Slovakia; E.l̀(tic -- Part Iii: Practices Of Agenda Initiatives -- The Austrian Agenda Initiative: An Instrument Dominated By Opposition Parties; K. Giese -- The Spanish Agenda Initiative And The Reform Of Its Legal Regime: A New Chance For Participatory Democracy?; V. Cuesta-l̤pez -- Popular Initiatives In Poland: Citizen Empowerment Or Keeping Up Appearances?; A. Rytel-warzocha -- Transnational 'babystep': The European Citizens' Initiative; B. Kaufmann -- Comparative Findings; T. Schiller And M. Set̃l̃ Edited By Maija Setälä, Academy Research Fellow, Department Of Political Science, University Of Turku, Finland And Theo Schiller, Emeritus Professor Of Political Science, Department Of Political Science, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction....Pages 1-14 Front Matter....Pages 15-15 Switzerland: Citizens’ Initiatives as a Measure to Control the Political Agenda....Pages 17-36 Initiatives in Liechtenstein: Safety Valve in a Complex System of Government....Pages 37-52 An Electoral Tactic? Citizens’ Initiatives in Post-Soviet Latvia....Pages 53-68 Front Matter....Pages 69-69 Institutions of Citizens’ Political Participation in Italy: Crooked Forms, Hindered Institutionalization....Pages 71-88 Initiative Instruments in Germany: Variations in Regional States....Pages 89-112 Citizens’ Initiatives in Hungary: An Additional Opportunity for Power-Sharing in an Extremely Majoritarian System....Pages 113-133 Citizens’ Initiatives in Lithuania: Initiative Institutions and Their Political Impact in a New Democracy....Pages 134-151 If It Works, Fine, If Not, So What? Initiatives in Slovakia....Pages 152-171 Front Matter....Pages 173-173 The Austrian Agenda Initiative: An Instrument Dominated by Opposition Parties....Pages 175-192 The Spanish Agenda Initiative and the Reform of Its Legal Regime: A New Chance for Participatory Democracy?....Pages 193-211 Popular Initiatives in Poland: Citizens’ Empowerment or Keeping Up Appearances?....Pages 212-227 Transnational ‘Babystep’: The European Citizens’ Initiative....Pages 228-242 Comparative Findings....Pages 243-259 Back Matter....Pages 260-262 'An important contribution to the comparative literature on direct democracy. The growing use of initiatives and the coming into effect of the new European Citizens' Initiative make this a particularly timely publication.' - Lawrence LeDuc, Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto, Canada 'This is an impressive book. It covers an obvious need and is written by the best experts within the field. A major contribution to our understanding of democracy in Europe.' - Palle Svensson, Professor, Aarhus University, Denmark