Local Referendum in Ukraine: Democracy vs. Manipulation (Case Study of Chernivtsi Community)

Abstract

This article examines the institution of local referendums as an effective tool of direct democracy in local self-government, aimed at addressing problematic issues of the territorial community, shaping a referendum culture among voters, and providing legitimacy to adopted decisions. It is argued that local referendums have both positive and negative properties, depending on their purpose. The referendum legitimacy of adopted decisions is analyzed through trust in the voting results and electoral participation. Chernivtsi region is unique in the context of modeling voter behavior, which allows studying the national referendum process through its example. It is shown that the practice of using local referendums in Ukraine has both positive and negative aspects, from legitimizing existing legal norms, resolving conflict situations, and coordinating decisions of local authorities, to the technology of parallels for manipulating public opinion and ensuring voter turnout. In the Chernivtsi community, it was used to determine further prospects for the region’s economic development, eliminate the totalitarian heritage in the name of the unit of administrative division, solve problematic situations through local taxation, and improve the administrative division of the city of Chernivtsi. They were mostly used as democratic tools for decision-making by polling public opinion, although cases of blocking their initiation, manipulating public opinion, technology to eliminate opponents, and obstructing the activities of civil society to express distrust of the local council did occur. The motivation of voters during voting varies from emotional to rational factors, and the key role is played by the information campaign conducted before the voting. It is noted that local referendum culture is only beginning to form in Ukraine, which requires a more detailed familiarization of the population with the possibilities of this institution, popularization of the local referendum, and conducting information campaigns on its effectiveness.