This volume analyses how the use of referendums affects the central functions and characteristics of representative democracy. It provides a balanced account of the interaction between referendums and representative institutions and actors, seeking to evaluate whether referendums supplement or undermine representative democracy. Considering both normative and empirical questions, the volume also examines the particular circumstances under which referendums strengthen or weaken representative democracy.

Providing a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches used in the study of referendums, this book is divided into three sections: Referendums and the Models of Democracy, The Demand of Referendums: Party Ideologies and Strategies, and Referendum Campaigns and Voter Behaviour. It features case studies on Ireland, Israel, Canada, California, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the Nordic Countries, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU Constitutional Treaty. In addition to system-level evaluations of referendums, studies on the ideological attitudes of political actors and strategic use of referendums, the volume also provides analyses of referendum campaigns and voters? choices in referendums. Covering referendums on European integration, the volume also demonstrates how supra-national governance gives rise to the demand of referendums.

This volume will be of interest to students and scholars of political science, political theory, comparative politics, and European studies.

This volume analyses how the use of referendums affects the central functions and characteristics of representative democracy. It provides a balanced account of the interaction between referendums and representative institutions and actors, seeking to evaluate whether referendums supplement or undermine representative democracy. Considering both normative and empirical questions, the volume also examines the particular circumstances under which referendums strengthen or weaken representative democracy. Providing a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches used in the study of referendums, this book is divided into three sections: Referendums and the Models of Democracy, The Demand of Referendums: Party Ideologies and Strategies, and Referendum Campaigns and Voter Behaviour. It features case studies on Ireland, Israel, Canada, California, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the Nordic Countries, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU Constitutional Treaty. In addition to system-level evaluations of referendums, studies on the ideological attitudes of political actors and strategic use of referendums, the volume also provides analyses of referendum campaigns and voters' choices in referendums. Covering referendums on European integration, the volume also demonstrates how supra-national governance gives rise to the demand of referendums. This volume will be of interest to students and scholars of political science, political theory, comparative politics, and European studies.

Modern direct democracy has recently become an important element of political life in many countries. These developments can be observed at the national, regional, and local level of political systems. Participation and democracy in local political affairs play a major role in stabilising and developing democratic systems. This volume presents, for the first time, a broad basis of information on the wide variety of local institutions and practice of direct democracy in 19 countries. Country specialists analyse
- the role of direct democracy in the institutional context and culture of national political systems,
- political processes of introduction and development of initiatives and referendums,
- regulations of procedures of municipal direct democracy,
- practice of local direct democracy,
- the contribution of local direct democracy to democratic development in general.

Dieser Band gibt einen Uberblick zu den Entwicklungen der Demokratie in den europaischen Landern und zum europaischen Stand der Forschung."

The 2007 microfiche edition publishes unique and previously kept closed file holdings of the Hessian State Archives and of the Bundesarchiv (National archive) of proceedings against the opponents of National Socialism in the Volksgerichtshof (People's Court) and higher regional courts of Darmstadt and Kassel. The files are easy to work with using the indexes in the accompanying volume, which cover the following subjects: names of accused; names of judges, public prosecutor, assessor; scene of crime and residence of accused; groups and organisations. An introduction to the subject matter and the file holdings is provided.

This work looks at the Philipps-UniversitAt, Marburg, an institution influenced by national conservatism in the first half of the 20th century, in a study of the functionality and continuity of an academic elite spanning different political systems. The essays address questions concerning the institution's history, biographies and history of methods in disciplines heavily influenced by ideology, such as German studies, art history, musicology and European ethnology. Particular attention has been paid to the connection between academic work, membership in parties and organizations, political activities and careers of those at the university.

The German Universities are in crisis - such is the general perception. The reform euphoria of the seventies has long since been replaced by disappointment: material waste and political insignificance threaten universities in Germany. But what does the university of the future look like? How many reforms should there be, how much competition, how international do they need to become? Well-known specialists involved in research and university practice lay a foundation for the current debate. From the beginnings in the 12th century, to Wilhelm von Humboldt's university reform and on to universities for the masses in the age of globalisation - this collected edition presents a comprehensive overview. The scope ranges from historical analysis to practical perspectives for the future and new thought-provoking impulses for the university of tomorrow.

Die NS-Strafjustiz und ihre Opfer sind fur die Beurteilung der Rolle OEsterreichs in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus und fur das Selbstverstandnis der OEsterreicher bis heute von erheblicher Relevanz. Die Instrumentalisierung des Widerstands und der Opfer und die Ausblendung der oesterreichischen Mitwirkung an en NS-Verbrechen war lange Zeit kennzeichnend fur eine emotional gefuhrten Diskussion um die Opferrolle OEsterreichs im "Dritten Reich". Mit dem Band NS-Justiz und politische Verfolgung in OEsterreich 1938-1945werden nun erstmals die Fakten zu diesem Thema zur Diskussion gestellt, die uberlieferten Unterlagen aufgearbeitet und quellenkritisch und wissenschaftlich analysiert. Der Grossteil des deutschen und oesterreichischen Widerstandes gegen das NS-Regime wurde von der Gestapo zerschlagen. Viele Regimekritiker wurden von Gerichten abgeurteilt oder sofort ohne Verfahren in ein KZ eingeliefert. Die Unterlagen aus mehreren tausend Prozessen - Akten, Urteile, Anklagen, Protokolle und polizeiliche Unterlagen - sind oft die einzige Quelle zur historischen Rekonstruktion der Geschehnisse. Die Gerichtsdokumente geben einerseits Aufschluss uber Umfang und das soziale Umfeld des Widerstandes sowie uber die Motive, Ziele und Tatigkeiten einzelner Personen und Gruppen. Auf der anderen Seite lassen sie aber auch Ruckschlusse auf die Justiz, die Besetzung der Gerichte, Rechtsprechung, politische Steuerung und ideologische Intentionen zu. Die Urteile, Anklagen und Einvernahmeprotokolle sowie die vielfach in den Gerichtsakten enthaltenen Gestapodokumente sind die wichtigste Quelle fur die Erforschung des Widerstands bzw. der nationalsozialistischen Repressionsmassnahmen. Der Band NS-Justiz und politische Verfolgung in OEsterreich 1938-1945wertet systematisch das uberlieferte Quellenmaterial zu allen Verfahren wegen Hochverrats, Landesverrats und Wehrkraftzersetzung vor dem Volksgerichtshof und den Oberlandesgerichten Wien und Graz gegen insgesamt 6.300 Personen wissenschaftlich aus und vermittelt dabei Einblicke sowohl in den oesterreichischen Widerstand und in die nonkonformen Handlungen der Bevoelkerung als auch in die Vorgehensweise des NS-Regimes bei der Instrumentalisierung des Strafrechts gegen politisch Andersdenkende. Die in dem Band ausgewerteten Verfahrensakten sind fur die Mikrofiche-Edition Widerstand und Verfolgung in OEsterreich 1938-1945 ausserdem vollstandig verfilmt worden.

This volume covers all the indictments and judgements of trials held against Austrian citizens on account of high treason, treason and military subversion, at the higher regional courts of Vienna and Graz during the German occupation of Austria, which are contained in the microfiche edition. Besides indexes of persons, places and organizations, this volume also contains indexes of judges, lay judges and prosecutors at the 'Volksgerichtshof' (people's court) and the higher regional courts in Vienna and Graz.

Das Interesse am Forschungsgegenstand "Direkte Demokratie" hat in den vergangenen Jahren stark zugenommen. Die Praxis in den Landern und Gemeinden sowie die Bemuhungen um Einfuhrung und Reform von Beteiligungsrechten zur direkten Sachentscheidung durch die Burger auf Bundesebene und anderen europaischen Staaten haben zahlreiche theoretische und empirische Forschungsaktivitaten angeregt. Dieser Band fasst insgesamt 22 Forschungsbeitrage aus Deutschland und der Schweiz zur direkten Demokratie zusammen. Die Beitrage widmen sich u.a. dem Forschungsstand, den verschiedenen Regelungen, der Anwendungspraxis, der OEffentlichkeitsstruktur und den Systemwirkungen im reprasentativen Kontext. Somit bilden diese Arbeiten eine Grundlage fur eine fundierte Diskussion uber Perspektiven der direkten Demokratie sowie kommende wissenschaftliche und politische Debatten. Der Band bietet detaillierte Analysen zur Verfassung der Direktdemokratie als einer "Zweiten Saule der Demokratie".