Referendum Could Be A Dangerous Weapon

The ongoing political conflict between the government of Spain and the Generalitat of Catalonia over the issue of Catalan independence has once again proved that referendum could be a dangerous weapon in a democratic structure.

Sometimes, referendum brings near anarchy in a country, making it difficult for the democratic constitution to tackle the situation. Although the outcome of a referendum reflects public opinion, often the collective opinion of the people lacks proper understanding of the social needs. Sometimes, public opinion also lacks a vision.

Freedom-loving Spanish province of Catalonia has always wanted to leave the European country and emerge as a separate state. In 1922, a political movement began under the leadership of Francesc Macià, who founded the Estat Català (Catalan State) party. Later in 1931, Estat Català and other parties joined hands to form...