People engagement in direct democracy: comparison of Italian referendum with UK and Canada

Direct democracy is a form of governance in which citizens have a direct, equal, decisive role in public policy formation and governance. In a direct democracy, citizens participate directly in the decision-making process, usually through meetings, referendums, or initiatives, instead of relying on representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Referendums are a tool used in direct democracy, allowing citizens to vote directly on specific issues. Referendums can be binding or non-binding, depending on the specific laws and regulations of the country in question. The use of referendums varies widely across countries and is often used to address important and controversial issues. In a negotiation process, a referendum can be used to gauge public opinion on a particular issue and provide a mandate for negotiating parties to take action. This is a comparative study that examines the referendums in Italy, the UK and Canada based on people engagement (turnout and voting behaviour). Our analysis examines the campaign and discusses the factors like the extent of knowledge and awareness in the negotiation process between the state and non-state parties and the main drivers that influence voting patterns in these referendums, in subject states. It consists of a mixed approach research method; data collection was conducted through a primary source which included literature reviews, surveys and interviews as well as secondary sources. The study was conducted over a 3-year duration. Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada have their own unique political, social, and cultural context thus; different public approach to direct democracy exists in each country. However, some general observations can be made. In Italy, referendums are a well-established part of the political landscape and have been used to address important constitutional and political issues. The most recent one, in 2016, saw a low voter turnout of around 59% with a majority vote against proposed constitutional reforms. Education, employment and the popularity of government were the main drivers of referendum results. In the United Kingdom, the use of direct democracy is limited, and citizens' engagement in decision-making is mainly through indirect methods such as elections and representation. Referendums are a relatively recent addition to the political system in the UK and have been used only twice in modern history. The first was the Brexit referendum in 2016, which saw a high level of voter engagement and a close result, and the second was the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, which saw a voter turnout of around 84%. While referendums in the UK are still a novel concept, they have the potential to increase political engagement and participation. This is reflected in the growing popularity of citizen-led initiatives and the increasinguse of digital technologies to enhance participation and engagement in the democratic process. In Canada, direct democracy is used in the form of citizen-initiated referendums at the provincial level. However, there is no national mechanism for citizen-initiated referendums, and participation rates tend to be low, often due to low public awareness or interest in the subject being voted on. In conclusion, people's engagement in referendums varies between Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with each country having its own unique political, cultural, and social context that influences participation. It is influenced by several factors, including the political system, cultural norms, and access to information and tools for participation. Our study would help in policy-making related to the negotiation process and make informed policy decisions to restore peace through a better process of conflict resolution. Nevertheless, while referendums can play a role in the negotiation process by giving citizens a direct say in important decisions, they should be used judiciously and in conjunction with other methods of public consultation and engagement.