In this second undergraduate essay for our “Democratic Erosion” miniseries, Rachel Funk interrogates the susceptibility of referenda to abuse by government leaders. Using the examples of recent constitutional referenda in Rwanda and Burundi to extend presidential term limits, she explains how, in atmospheres with a history of violence and nominally democratic regimes that stifle political opposition, referenda can be manipulated to prolong the tenure of a leader under the guises of popular will and consent. Funk concludes by highlighting examples where referenda and other forms of direct democracy can play a more constructive role when combined with institutional checks.
Rachel Funk
Rachel Funk is a senior at Utah State University. She holds double majors in statistics and international relations and minors in mathematics and anticipatory intelligence. Her current research deals with the fake news phenomenon and its consequences for democracy. She is also interested in the MENA region, grassroots political movements, US national security policy, and quantitative research methods. Rachel plans to pursue a PhD in political science after graduation.