Making Peace with Referendums

Referendums serve as crucial peacemaking tools in modern peace processes, particularly in the context of the Annan Plan in Cyprus and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. Through detailed case studies and interviews with key figures, Amaral highlights the impact of inclusive negotiations that engage diverse political stakeholders and civil society. She argues that traditional secretive approaches are ineffective, advocating for transparency and public education to ensure that referendums can foster lasting peace and positively transform conflict-ridden societies.