The Regressive Effects of Direct Democracy: Evidence from Property Tax Assessors

The article explores the political effects of popular consultations as a means of direct democracy in struggles over mining. Building on concepts from participatory and materialist democracy theory, it shows the transformative potentials of processes of direct democracy towards democratization and emancipation under, and beyond, capitalist and liberal democratic conditions. Empirically the analysis is based on a case study on the protests against the La Colosa gold mining project in Colombia. The analysis reveals that although processes of direct democracy in conflicts over mining cannot transform existing class inequalities and social power relations fundamentally, they can nevertheless alter elements thereof. These are for example the relationship between local and national governments, changes of the political agenda of mining and the opening of new spaces for political participation, where previously there were none. It is here where it’s emancipatory potential can be found.

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Discursive construction of an anti-immigration Europe by a Sweden Democrat in the European Parliament

MIGRATION LETTERS ◽

10.33182/ml.v16i3.632 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 429-439

Author(s):

Kamber Güler

Keyword(s):

Critical Discourse Analysis ◽

Direct Democracy ◽

Public Discourse ◽

Social Power ◽

European Parliament ◽

Critical Discourse ◽

Discursive Construction ◽

Cognitive Approach ◽

The Public ◽

Political Group

Discourses are mostly used by the elites as a means of controlling public discourse and hence, the public mind. In this way, they try to legitimate their ideology, values and norms in the society, which may result in social power abuse, dominance or inequality. The role of a critical discourse analyst is to understand and expose such abuses and inequalities. To this end, this paper is aimed at understanding and exposing the discursive construction of an anti-immigration Europe by the elites in the European Parliament (EP), through the example of Kristina Winberg, a member of the Sweden Democrats political party in Sweden and the political group of Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy in the EP. In the theoretical and methodological framework, the premises and strategies of van Dijk’s socio-cognitive approach of critical discourse analysis make it possible to achieve the aim of the paper.

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