Deliberative Peace Referendums

by Ron Levy, Ian O'Flynn, Hoi L. Kong

Overview

Peace referendums', which seek to manage conflict between warring groups, are increasingly common. Yet they remain erratic forces—liable as often to aggravate as to resolve tensions. This book argues that, despite their risks, referendums can play useful roles amid armed conflict. Drawing on a distinctive combination of the fields of deliberative democracy, constitutional theory and conflict studies, and relying on comparative examples (eg, from Algeria, Colombia, New Caledonia, Northern Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa), the book shows how peace referendums can fulfil their promise as genuine tools of conflict management.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198867036
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Series:	Oxford Comparative Constitutionalism
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ron Levy, Associate Professor of Law, Australian National University College of Law,Ian O'Flynn, Senior Lecturer in Political Theory, Newcastle University,Hoi L. Kong, UBC Professor in Constitutional Law, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia

Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction1.. IntroductionPart II: Foundations2.. Settlement Achievement3.. Designing a Deliberative Peace Referendum4.. Settlement EndurancePart III: Variations5.. Group Sovereignty Conflict6.. Group Secession7.. Indigenous-Settler ConflictsPart IV: Conclusion8.. Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

"Ambitious, precisely argued, comprehensive, and important, Levy, O'Flynn and Kong combine hard-headed realism about the difficulties of deliberating across long-standing and deep divisions in post-conflict contexts (including indigenous-settler relations), with the equally realistic view that the alternatives to deliberative democracy are almost always worse. Their suggestions for 'Deliberative Peace Referendums' provide politically attractive and practical means for generating inclusion, stability, and political legitimacy in post-conflict political transitions. A must-read for deliberative democrats focused on constitution-making as well as for practitioners focused on post-conflict political transitions." — Mark E Warren, Harold and Dorrie Merilees Chair in the Study of Democracy, The University of British Columbia

From the Publisher