The Politics of Switzerland : Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy

Despite Switzerland's small size, its political system is one of the most complex and fascinating among contemporary democracies. The rich, complex mixture of centuries-old institutions and the refined political arrangements that exist today constitute a veritable laboratory for social scientists and their students. Often presented as the paradigmatic case of political integration, consensus democracy and multinational federalism, the Swiss model has become a benchmark case for analyses in comparative politics, political behaviour and other related fields. Written by two leading experts on Swiss politics, this book presents a definitive overview for scholars and students interested in Switzerland's political system at the beginning of the twenty-first century. By focusing on its intricacies but also taking in larger issues of general interest, the broad scope of this study will appeal to all those interested in contemporary European politics and democratic systems. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Figures......Page 10 Tables......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 16 1.1 State formation......Page 19 1.2 Nation building......Page 24 1.3 Switzerland: a nation-state?......Page 28 1.4 Conclusion......Page 34 2 Neutrality......Page 35 2.1 Introduction......Page 36 2.2 The traditional meaning of neutrality......Page 37 2.3 Swiss neutrality today: orphan of its substance?......Page 41 2.4 The future of neutrality: living with the empty shell......Page 48 3.1 The gradual consolidation......Page 52 3.2 Cantonal autonomy vis-à-vis the federal level......Page 54 3.3 Federal dependency at the cantonal level......Page 56 3.4 Cooperative federalism......Page 58 3.5 Assessing Swiss federalism......Page 60 3.6 Conclusion: reforming Swiss federalism......Page 64 4.1 The institutions of direct democracy......Page 67 4.2 The logic and use of referendums and popular initiatives......Page 74 4.3 Voting in direct-democratic processes......Page 79 4.4 Conclusion......Page 84 5.2 The Federal Parliament......Page 87 5.3 The Federal Council......Page 93 5.4 The future of the Swiss system of government......Page 99 6.2 The fragmentation of the Swiss party system......Page 102 6.3 The structuring of the party system......Page 104 6.4 The parties as organizations......Page 108 6.5 The transformation of the party system......Page 111 6.6 Conclusion......Page 116 7.1 Introduction......Page 117 7.2 The structuring of the system of business interest associations......Page 118 7.3 The structuring of the unions......Page 122 7.4 Labour relations: social partnership......Page 124 7.5 Other associations and actors......Page 128 7.6 Conclusion......Page 130 8.1 Introduction......Page 133 8.2 The pre-parliamentary phase......Page 135 8.3 The parliamentary phase......Page 137 8.4 The direct-democratic phase......Page 138 8.5 The implementation phase......Page 141 8.6 The transformation of the decision-making process: internationalization......Page 143 8.7 The transformation of the decision-making process: the changing national context......Page 146 8.8 Conclusion......Page 148 9.1 Introduction......Page 150 9.2 Structural reforms......Page 154 Internal liberalization......Page 155 Fiscal reform......Page 159 The labour market......Page 163 Macro-economic policy......Page 166 Investment......Page 167 9.4 Conclusion......Page 170 10.1 Introduction......Page 173 10.2 The origins of the specificities of the Swiss welfare state......Page 174 The impact of a Reformed Protestant culture......Page 175 The impact of federalism......Page 177 The impact of direct democracy......Page 179 Autodynamic processes......Page 180 Institutional factors......Page 181 10.4 Factors contributing to the structural transformation......Page 184 10.5 Conclusion......Page 186 Stage one: initial multilateral failures (1955–72)......Page 190 Stage two: stagnation (1972–86)......Page 192 Stage three: further multilateral failure (1986–92)......Page 193 Stage four: enhanced unilateral and bilateral integration (1993–2007)......Page 196 11.3 Prospects for accession......Page 201 11.4 Switzerland’s European future: customized quasi-membership......Page 204 Appendix......Page 209 References......Page 210 Index......Page 236 9780521844574 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Figures 10 Tables 11 Preface 13 Abbreviations 16 1 The development of the modern Swiss nation-state 19 1.1 State formation 19 1.2 Nation building 24 1.3 Switzerland: a nation-state? 28 1.4 Conclusion 34 2 Neutrality 35 2.1 Introduction 36 2.2 The traditional meaning of neutrality 37 2.3 Swiss neutrality today: orphan of its substance? 41 2.4 The future of neutrality: living with the empty shell 48 3 Federalism 52 3.1 The gradual consolidation 52 3.2 Cantonal autonomy vis-à-vis the federal level 54 3.3 Federal dependency at the cantonal level 56 3.4 Cooperative federalism 58 3.5 Assessing Swiss federalism 60 3.6 Conclusion: reforming Swiss federalism 64 4 Direct democracy 67 4.1 The institutions of direct democracy 67 4.2 The logic and use of referendums and popular initiatives 74 4.3 Voting in direct-democratic processes 79 4.4 Conclusion 84 5 The Swiss system of government 87 5.1 Introduction 87 5.2 The Federal Parliament 87 5.3 The Federal Council 93 5.4 The future of the Swiss system of government 99 6 The party system 102 6.1 Introduction 102 6.2 The fragmentation of the Swiss party system 102 6.3 The structuring of the party system 104 6.4 The parties as organizations 108 6.5 The transformation of the party system 111 6.6 Conclusion 116 7 Interest associations and labour relations 117 7.1 Introduction 117 7.2 The structuring of the system of business interest associations 118 7.3 The structuring of the unions 122 7.4 Labour relations: social partnership 124 7.5 Other associations and actors 128 7.6 Conclusion 130 8 The decision-making process 133 8.1 Introduction 133 8.2 The pre-parliamentary phase 135 8.3 The parliamentary phase 137 8.4 The direct-democratic phase 138 8.5 The implementation phase 141 8.6 The transformation of the decision-making process: internationalization 143 8.7 The transformation of the decision-making process: the changing national context 146 8.8 Conclusion 148 9 Economic policy: liberalization under constraints 150 9.1 Introduction 150 9.2 Structural reforms 154 Internal liberalization 155 Fiscal reform 159 9.3 Other factors 163 The labour market 163 Macro-economic policy 166 Investment 167 9.4 Conclusion 170 10 Social policy: the Swiss welfare state 173 10.1 Introduction 173 10.2 The origins of the specificities of the Swiss welfare state 174 The impact of a Reformed Protestant culture 175 The impact of federalism 177 The impact of direct democracy 179 10.3 Factors behind the catching-up 180 Autodynamic processes 180 Institutional factors 181 10.4 Factors contributing to the structural transformation 184 10.5 Conclusion 186 11 Foreign policy: Switzerland and the EU 190 11.1 Introduction 190 11.2 Historical overview 190 Stage one: initial multilateral failures (1955–72) 190 Stage two: stagnation (1972–86) 192 Stage three: further multilateral failure (1986–92) 193 Stage four: enhanced unilateral and bilateral integration (1993–2007) 196 11.3 Prospects for accession 201 11.4 Switzerland’s European future: customized quasi-membership 204 Appendix 209 References 210 Index 236 #,Publisher:,Cambridge,University,Press,#,Number,Of,Pages:,240,#,Publication,Date:,2008-10-20 Despite Switzerland's small size, its political system is one of the most complex and fascinating among contemporary democracies. By focusing on its intricacies but also taking in broader issues of general interest, the broad scope of this study will appeal to all those interested in contemporary European politics Authoritative survey of the processes and policies of the Swiss political system, revealing the richness of its history and institutions Hanspeter Kriesi, Alexander H. Trechsel. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193-217) And Index.