Popular Sovereignty vs. the Rule of Law? Defining the Limits of Direct Democracy
Should it be permissible to launch a citizens` initiative demanding the reintroduction of the death penalty? May a proposal be put to a popular vote despite the fact that voters are not properly informed about its effects? Should the people be allowed to vote on the adoption of immigration restrictions that violate international law?
With the mushrooming of direct-democratic instruments throughout Europe and the introduction of the European Citizens` Initiative (ECI), the relationship between popular sovereignty and the rule of law is set to become one of the defining political issues of our time. Where should the legal limits of direct democracy be drawn? Who should review compliance with these limits? It is the objective of LIDD to provide the scientific basis for answering these questions.
This European Research Council (ERC) funded project builds on a comparative legal analysis, making it possible to capitalize on the wealth of experience gained with direct-democratic instruments in Switzerland and, more recently, other European states in order to develop general conclusions.
News & Events
- LIDD job opportunityA new PhD position in European Law has just been adverstised […]
- Defining the limits of direct-democratic instrumentsArticle that appeared in euresearcher.eu about the LIDD research project
- The legal limits of direct democracyWorkshop organised by the LIDD team at the University of Zurich
- Agenda Initiatives in Comparative ContextWorkshop jointly organised by Queen Mary University of London and the LIDD team.
- Direct Democracy v. PopulismInternational conference at the University of Geneva where the LIDD team presented the project.
Defining the Limits of Direct Democracy (LIDD) is a research project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) hosted at the University of Zürich. Led by Prof. Dr. Daniel Moeckli, the project runs from November 2018 to October 2023.
