Introduction

Abstract

This book is a product of the belief that there is a convincing justification for a systematic legal analysis of the referendums on sovereignty issues. With more than 300 referendums that have been held since the late eighteenth century, there are now abundant data in international and constitutional law for a comparative analysis on sovereignty referendums, which mostly derive their philosophical foundations from liberal values such as nationalism, democracy , popular and national sovereignty and self-determination . Thus, this first introductory chapter highlights this point of departure and provides a brief summary and plan of the book.