Referendums in Italy: Direct Democracy under Controlled Conditions

The article examines the tension between direct and representative democracy in Italy, arguing that while referendums can occasionally facilitate progressive social change, they often fail to address systemic issues like corruption or the perceived marginalization of citizens. It concludes that genuine democratic sovereignty is achieved through social justice and inclusion rather than the mechanism of referendums alone.

• The Italian Constitution intentionally limits direct democracy to a narrow margin to prevent the return of authoritarianism and to maintain the stability of the parliamentary form of government.
• Abrogative referendums have successfully translated social progress into law, such as the 1974 referendum where nearly 60 per cent of voters opposed repealing divorce provisions, thereby supporting civil rights and women's rights.
• Some referendums have failed to achieve their intended democratic goals; for example, a 1993 referendum to change the Senate's electoral system did not reduce corruption and instead intensified the direct relationship between leaders and the people.
• A September 2020 constitutional referendum to reduce the number of members of parliament was approved by nearly 70 per cent of voters, but scholars suggest this may create an illusion of change rather than improving the quality of representation.
• The author argues that referendums are not a sufficient vector for inclusive democracy and that true sovereignty requires social justice and the realization of social rights.

APA

Bonini, M. (2021). Referendums in Italy: Direct Democracy under Controlled Conditions. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/referendums-in-italy-direct-democracy-under-controlled-conditions/

Chicago

Bonini, Monica. Referendums in Italy: Direct Democracy under Controlled Conditions. Green European Journal, 2021. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/referendums-in-italy-direct-democracy-under-controlled-conditions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bonini |first1=Monica |title=Referendums in Italy: Direct Democracy under Controlled Conditions |publisher=Green European Journal |date=26 May 2021 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/referendums-in-italy-direct-democracy-under-controlled-conditions/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bonini2021referendums, author = {Bonini, Monica}, title = {{Referendums in Italy: Direct Democracy under Controlled Conditions}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/referendums-in-italy-direct-democracy-under-controlled-conditions/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }