Swiss Democracy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxiv

   PDF

2. Building a Multicultural Society by Political Integration

   • Wolf Linder

   Pages 1-42

3. Federalism

   • Wolf Linder

   Pages 43-91

4. Direct Democracy

   • Wolf Linder

   Pages 92-127

5. Consensus Democracy: The Swiss System of Power-Sharing

   • Wolf Linder

   Pages 128-157

6. Comparative Perspectives

   • Wolf Linder

   Pages 158-206

7. Back Matter

   Pages 207-246

   PDF

An updated 3rd edition of this authoritative analysis of Swiss democracy, the institutions of federalism, and consensus democracy through political power sharing. Linder analyzes the scope and limits of citizens' participation in direct democracy, which distinguishes Switzerland from most parliamentary systems.

• conflict
• democracy
• desegregation
• federalism
• Institution
• parliament
• participation
• european union politics

Reviews of the 2nd Edition:

'The real value of the book lies in its critical dissection of features of Swiss democracy that are frequently praised in theory but rarely assessed in practice. Linder shows that behind its apparent populist democracy lurks the power of interest groups. So he makes a contribution to thought about democracy which could have significant lessons for countries seeking to be democratic.' - G.W. Jones, Professor of Government, London School of Economics, University of London, UK

'Linder is not the first author trying to explain the Swiss system to foreigners. But he uniquely combines three features: a sound and comprehensive scientific bse, the personal competence of combining theoretical knowledge with the insights of practical political life, and the ability to ask critical questions on the way Swiss institutions work.' - Rene Levy, Professor of Sociology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

'Wolf Linder's Swiss Democracy blends theoretical analysis with descriptive facility so as to present a vivid portrait of what is distinctive about the Swiss political system. It poses original questions which students are encouraged to ponder in comparative perspective to other systems.' - Arnold J. Heidenheimer, Professor of Political Science, Washington University, USA

• Institute of Political Science, University of Bern, Switzerland

  Wolf Linder

WOLF LINDER is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former Director of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern, Switzerland. His main research field is Swiss politics. Linder worked as an expert for national and international agencies in developing countries for questions of institutional power sharing, federalism and decentralization.

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