Those who win and those who lose: The effect of nationwide referendums on political parties in Poland

This paper aims to present the ways in which political parties in Poland attempt to use situations in which a nationwide referendum is called for their own purposes. Applying tools of direct democracy brings forth both positive as well as negative results (Ladner, Brändle 1999; Vreese 2006). It gives political parties an impulse to increase and adapt their activity (Scarrow 1999; Bowler, Donovan 2006; Fatke 2014). It also provides a perspective of polarization between parties, activating their members and winning new voters both for the governing party as well as the opposition (Farrell, Schmitt-Beck 2002). On the other hand, however, a nationwide referendum can lead to the rise of new political parties and leaders, as well as strengthening marginal and radical parties, while building their social support and restructuring the political scene in the country (Budge 1993). The analysis of relationships between the activity of political parties and the use of direct democratic tools constitutes a difficult challenge when it comes to parties and party systems in post-communist countries, which are still undergoing dynamic transformations. In the history of Poland after 1989, the citizens have had an opportunity to express their opinions in nationwide referendums five times. This period allows one to propose a preliminary summary of relationships between direct democracy and political parties and to indicate which of the above mentioned consequences apply in the analysed country.