As part of the democracy team, I report on the dynamic relationship between citizens and their institutions in Switzerland and abroad.
Born in Ireland, I have a BA in European Studies and MA in International Relations. I've been at SWI swissinfo.ch since 2017.
The purest democracy? Visiting one of Switzerland’s historic open-air assemblies
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The annual “Landsgemeinde” in Glarus is like a folk festival, a party, and a crash-course in politics rolled into one. Is it democratically relevant?
‘One for all, all for one’ – how the Swiss government makes decisions
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Secret meetings, no prime minister, and a seven-member executive that defends decisions collectively – the Swiss system of “collegiality” explained.
‘It’s political’: why some people refuse to have a smartphone
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Almost two decades after the first iPhone, not everyone is ready to go fully digital. We talk to three people sceptical of the always-online life.
Why the AfD is keen on Switzerland’s direct democracy
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The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has long advocated for “Swiss-style” direct democracy. What does the party hope to achieve with this?
Social media fragmentation: do online platforms drown democracy in noise?
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With online platforms under pressure and AI set to flood the internet with content, is it all over for the ideal of a harmonious digital public sphere?
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Citizens have said a clear no to an ambitious proposal by the Young Greens to bring the country’s economy into line with “planetary boundaries”.
What does 2025 hold in store for democracy around the world?
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Disinformation, election manipulation and online hate are unlikely to disappear – but some signs of hope for democracy can still be found.
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Drones, conflict, and new life: Swiss midwife Tamara Bonc describes what it's like to work in the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah.
Seven ways the ECHR has shaped Swiss law over the years
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From surname rules to asbestos claims, the European Court on Human Rights has rapped Switzerland’s knuckles some 140 times since 1974.
Happy anniversary? Switzerland marks 50 years at the ECHR
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Half a century after Swiss ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights, the treaty is under pressure across the continent.
How much protest should a democratic state accept?
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Attention-grabbing stunts by climate activists have tested the limits of legitimate action in Switzerland and elsewhere. How should judges react?
AI on trial – who’s responsible when the algorithms mess up?
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What happens when public prosecutors bring charges directly against artificial intelligence itself? A mock trial in Geneva recently found out.
Latest US democracy promotion efforts spark Swiss interest
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Since 2022, Washington has been funding nations it judges to be democratic “bright spots”. Switzerland is also getting involved.
Milo Rau: democracy is an ’agora open to everyone who isn’t a criminal’
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On the International Day of Democracy, Switzerland’s most controversial theatre director talks about the “ritual” of public votes and the global state of political participation.
Insults and threats are everyday features of Swiss local politics, study shows
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Aggressive incidents are far from the exception for Swiss politicians, even at the most face-to-face local level – but physical attacks remain rare.
Swiss government rebuffs ECHR climate ruling: next stop Strasbourg
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Five months after human rights judges took Switzerland to task, the government has hit back – Swiss policies are not inadequate, it says.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
