LIMITS OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE: CASE STUDY OF THE LOCAL REFERENDUM IN THE CITIES OF BRATISLAVA AND KOŠICE

One of the fundamental prerequisites for a modern and effective democratic system is a civil society that actively influences public affairs. The paper aims to examine the relationship between democratization and active citizenship, as well as to analyse potential obstacles to citizens’ access to direct democracy, specifically in the context of changes in the functioning of local referendums in the cities of Bratislava and Košice. The study’s findings confirm that heterogeneity in opportunities and a variety of participation possibilities are crucial for fostering trust in democratic institutions.