Chasing votes. The Italians and the referendums of 15 June 1997

In the course of an acceleration phase of the institutional reform processes, the referendum of 15 June 1997 reopened the debate about the referendum itself as an institution, with a renewed and more marked polarisation. The use of this instrument, which has represented one of the most significant vehicles of the Country’s civil growth, now appears to be in search of popular legitimisation. Eurispes has gathered some crucial indications on the motivations and attitudes that govern the relationship between Italians and referendums today. Eurispes investigation was conducted in the context of this particular moment of transition, which has seen the political world and numerous authoritative cultural and social figures follow highly personalised paths of analysis and choice, far from the logics of defined membership.