Research and Documentation Centre on Direct Democracy (C2D)Back
The Research and Documentation Centre on Direct Democracy (C2D) was founded in 1993 at the Department of Constitutional Law of the University of Geneva. It provides a comprehensive database of referendums and popular initiatives around the world, which is very useful to the study of direct democracy. The following information was retrieved from the C2D website on 5 December 2004.
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| A team | |
The C2D was founded in 1993 at the Department of Constitutional Law of the University of Geneva. It consists of researchers and professors in law, political sciences and sociology who have devoted their research interests to direct democracy as a form of contemporary democracy. This small team of about ten research assistants is directed by Prof. Andreas AUER and entertains relations with universities, research institutes, public administrations and individuals at a national and international level.
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A database
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The heart of the C2D is an electronic database on direct democracy in Switzerland, Europe and the world. This database contains information on the institutions (referendum and popular initiative) of direct democracy as well as on their use in popular votes. At an international level, the data covers the results of nearly 3500 votes in more than 200 countries, protectorates, provinces and other geographical entities from 1791 to 2000.
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In Europe, the C2D disposes of a large documentation on the institutions of direct democracy in all European countries. Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the European Integration process are especially taken into consideration.
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Concerning the USA information on the institutions of direct democracy is available for the 50 States and their application for 3 typical States (California, Massachusetts, Oregon).
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Regarding Switzerland the data are complete at the national level from 1848 to 2000, thanks to a close collaboration with the Swiss Federal Chancellery. As for the Cantons, the C2D has the exclusive data - since 1970 - on the evolution of the institutions of direct democracy in 21 Swiss Cantons and the results of all the corresponding vote results.
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In the news section, researchers will find an exhaustive overview on recent developments on direct democracy in Switzerland and the world.
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Finally, the bibliography allows researchers to find references of publications concerning democracy and direct democracy in particular.
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