Abstract
In many respects, Switzerland is both a model example of a functioning democracy and also a special case. In this study, Adrian Vatter not only explains Switzerland’s most important political institutions, such as consociationalism, direct democracy and federalism, but also its electoral system and judiciary, into which little research has been conducted so far. He analyses Switzerland’s political system by comparing it to those of other countries and examines how it has evolved from a federal majoritarian system since the foundation of the federal state into an increasingly polarised consensus democracy at the beginning of the 21st century. In this completely updated second edition, Vatter not only examines Switzerland’s last parliamentary and government elections in 2015 but also its most recent national referendums.
Zusammenfassung
Die Schweiz gilt in vielerlei Hinsicht als Vorzeige-, aber auch als Sonderfall einer funktionierenden Demokratie. Adrian Vatter erläutert nicht nur die wichtigsten politischen Institutionen wie Konkordanz, direkte Demokratie und Föderalismus, sondern auch bisher wenig untersuchte Bereiche wie das Wahlsystem und die Justiz. Er analysiert das politische System im internationalen Vergleich und verfolgt den Wandel durch die letzten Jahrzehnte.
Abstract
In many respects, Switzerland is both a model example of a functioning democracy and also a special case. In this study, Adrian Vatter not only explains Switzerland’s most important political institutions, such as consociationalism, direct democracy and federalism, but also its electoral system and judiciary, into which little research has been conducted so far. He analyses Switzerland’s political system by comparing it to those of other countries and examines how it has evolved from a federal majoritarian system since the foundation of the federal state into an increasingly polarised consensus democracy at the beginning of the 21st century. In this completely updated second edition, Vatter not only examines Switzerland’s last parliamentary and government elections in 2015 but also its most recent national referendums.
Zusammenfassung
Die Schweiz gilt in vielerlei Hinsicht als Vorzeige-, aber auch als Sonderfall einer funktionierenden Demokratie. Adrian Vatter erläutert nicht nur die wichtigsten politischen Institutionen wie Konkordanz, direkte Demokratie und Föderalismus, sondern auch bisher wenig untersuchte Bereiche wie das Wahlsystem und die Justiz. Er analysiert das politische System im internationalen Vergleich und verfolgt den Wandel durch die letzten Jahrzehnte.
