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The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H

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The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information The Politics of Switzerland Despite Switzerland’s small size, its political system is one of the most com- plex 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 integra- tion, consensus democracy and multinational federalism, the Swiss model has become a benchmark case for analyses in comparative politics, politi- cal 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. hanspeter kriesi is Professor of Comparative Politics in the Depart- ment of Political Science at the University of Zurich. alexander h. trechsel is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute, Florence. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information The Politics of Switzerland Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy hanspeter kriesi alexander h. trechsel © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information University Printing House, Cambridge cb2 8bs, United Kingdom Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521606318 © Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel 2008 Th is publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2008, 2011 Second Edition 2012 Reprinted 2010, 2013 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Kriesi, Hanspeter. Th e politics of Switzerland / Hanspeter Kriesi, Alexander H. Trechsel. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-521-84457-4 – isbn 978-0-521-60631-8 (pbk.) 1. Switzerland – Politics and government – 21st century. I. Trechsel, Alexandre H. II. Title. dq212.k74 2008 320.4494 – dc22 2008031947 isbn 978-0-521-84457-4 Hardback isbn 978-0-521-60631-8 Paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information Contents List of figures page viii List of tables ix Preface xi List of abbreviations xiv 1 The development of the modern Swiss nation-state 1 1.1 State formation 1 1.2 Nation building 6 1.3 Switzerland: a nation-state? 10 1.4 Conclusion 16 2 Neutrality 18 2.1 Introduction 18 2.2 The traditional meaning of neutrality 19 2.3 Swiss neutrality today: orphan of its substance? 23 2.4 The future of neutrality: living with the empty shell 30 3 Federalism 34 3.1 The gradual consolidation 34 3.2 Cantonal autonomy vis-a-vis` the federal level 36 3.3 Federal dependency at the cantonal level 38 3.4 Cooperative federalism 40 3.5 Assessing Swiss federalism 42 3.6 Conclusion: reforming Swiss federalism 46 4 Direct democracy 49 4.1 The institutions of direct democracy 49 4.2 The logic and use of referendums and popular initiatives 56 4.3 Voting in direct-democratic processes 61 4.4 Conclusion 66 v © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information vi Contents 5 The Swiss system of government 69 5.1 Introduction 69 5.2 The Federal Parliament 69 5.3 The Federal Council 75 5.4 The future of the Swiss system of government 81 6 The party system 84 6.1 Introduction 84 6.2 The fragmentation of the Swiss party system 84 6.3 The structuring of the party system 86 6.4 The parties as organizations 90 6.5 The transformation of the party system 93 6.6 Conclusion 98 7 Interest associations and labour relations 99 7.1 Introduction 99 7.2 The structuring of the system of business interest associations 100 7.3 The structuring of the unions 104 7.4 Labour relations: social partnership 106 7.5 Other associations and actors 110 7.6 Conclusion 112 8 The decision-making process 115 8.1 Introduction 115 8.2 The pre-parliamentary phase 117 8.3 The parliamentary phase 119 8.4 The direct-democratic phase 120 8.5 The implementation phase 123 8.6 The transformation of the decision-making process: internationalization 125 8.7 The transformation of the decision-making process: the changing national context 128 8.8 Conclusion 130 9 Economic policy: liberalization under constraints 132 9.1 Introduction 132 9.2 Structural reforms 136 9.3 Other factors 145 9.4 Conclusion 152 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information Contents vii 10 Social policy: the Swiss welfare state 155 10.1 Introduction 155 10.2 The origins of the specificities of the Swiss welfare state 156 10.3 Factors behind the catching-up 162 10.4 Factors contributing to the structural transformation 166 10.5 Conclusion 168 11 Foreign policy: Switzerland and the EU 172 11.1 Introduction 172 11.2 Historical overview 172 11.3 Prospects for accession 183 11.4 Switzerland’s European future: customized quasi-membership 186 Appendix 191 References 193 Index 218 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information Figures 1.1 Shares of public revenues obtained by the three levels of government page 6 2.1 Number of Swiss mandates as a protecting power, 1950–2004 27 6.1 Development of party strength, 1971–2003: share of votes in National Council elections 94 6.2 Development of party strength, 1971–2003, in selected cantons: share of votes in National Council elections 95 6.3 Strength of moderate right in National Council and Council of States: share of votes (NC) and share of seats (CS) 98 7.1 Development of union membership, 1980–2000 106 9.1 Growth of the Swiss economy in comparison with the US, EU fifteen and other countries 135 9.2 Standardized unemployment rate 146 9.3 Foreign direct investments 151 11.1 Public opinion in favour of Switzerland’s EU accession, 1993–2005 186 viii © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information Tables 2.1 Pride and importance of neutrality for the future of Switzerland page 31 3.1 Expenditures for public policies (percentage 1998) 41 3.2 Pride and importance of federalism for the future of Switzerland 46 3.3 Attachment to the canton 47 4.1 Swiss federal institutions of direct democracy 50 4.2 The use of direct democratic institutions from 1848 to 2007 57 4.3 Pride and importance of direct democracy for the future of Switzerland 66 A1 Elections to the National Council, 1963–2007: percentages of votes 191 A2 Elections to the Council of States, 1939–2007: distribution of seats 192 ix © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-60631-8 - The Politics of Switzerland: Continuity and Change in a Consensus Democracy Hanspeter Kriesi and Alexander H. Trechsel Frontmatter More information Preface Despite Switzerland’s small size, the Swiss political system is in many respects one of the most complex and fascinating among contemporary western democracies.
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