In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 41 on direct democracy in Latin America, a discussion I had with Yanina Welp.

My three takeaways from episode 41:

0:50 Direct democracy is a powerful democratic institution.

2:41 Authoritarian regimes may use "the will of the people" to consolidate power.

7:14 The devil is in the details.

⁠Find the show notes with full transcript here⁠.

⁠Listen to episode 41 and find the show notes here⁠.

⁠Yanina Welp's research website

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Let the People Rule with John Matsusaka | Ep. 31:

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Venezuela's Democratic Erosion with Maryhen Jiménez | Ep. 27:

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Chile – From Street Protest to a New Constitution with Claudia Heiss | Ep. 8:

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Basic Principles of Direct Democracy with Stefan Schlegel | Ep. 5:

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It would be great to hear your opinion and feedback on this new format. If you want to send me an email, you can reach me at rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame

With Yanina Welp I discuss different ways of how direct democratic institutions have been applied in Latin American countries – both in fundamentally democratizing processes but also power grabbing incidents. In particular, we talk about the cases of Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela, based on Yanina’s extensive research and deep knowledge.

Yanina also shares her insights on how direct democracy can be a check on the power of the executive and legislative branches of government. And I also want to know what she expects from the second attempt in Chile to write a brand new constitution, that the people will decide on in a referendum in December.

Yanina Welp is a Research Fellow at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy  at the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Between 2008 and 2018 she was principal researcher at the Centre for Democracy Studies and co-director of the Zurich Latin American Centre, both at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. She got her PhD in Political and Social Sciences from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and a habilitation from the University of St. Gallen.

Two of her recent books are “The Will of the People: Populism and Citizens Participation in Latin America” and the “De Gruyter Handbook of Citizens Assemblies” that she co-edited with Min Reuchamps and Julien Vrydagh.

⁠Find a full transcript and links to all material discussed in the show notes.⁠

Schedule: 00:00 Introduction / 03:36 Personal questions / 07:10 Main discussion / 47:30 Recommendations by Yanina Welp.

Follow Yanina Welp on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Please send feedback to ⁠rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com⁠. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at ⁠buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame⁠.

Many thanks to Ana Margarida Santos who edited the episode.

Please enjoy this conversation with Yanina Welp.

–

Music credits: To Be A Ball Of Light by Late Night Feeler and Fantasy Classical Themes by TheoTe.

In this episode of Rules in Perspective I review the podcast episode 40 on the Citizens' Chamber in the Canton of Vaud, a discussion I had with Rodan Bury and Charly Pache.

My three takeaways from episode 40:

0:45 Designing complementary institutions

4:55 Citizens’ Chamber & direct democracy

8:56 Improving existing institutions

Find the show notes with full transcript here.

Listen to episode 40 and find the show notes here.

Letter from Switzerland: Where the People have the Veto

Related episode:

Deliberative Democracy and Citizens' Assemblies with Ian O'Flynn | Ep. 22:

• Listen and show notes
• Youtube

It would be great to hear your opinion and feedback on this new format. If you want to send me an email, you can reach me at rulesofthegame.ddi@gmail.com. If you find my discussions interesting and you’d like to support my work, consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rulesofthegame