Switzerland has done little more than bare minimum to improve transparency of its financial system
This content was published on
Switzerland is not doing enough to address the risks of money laundering, corruption and tax evasion, say Andres Knobel and Bob Michel of the Tax Justice Network.
In Switzerland, the real debate on citizens’ assemblies begins now
This content was published on
Citizens’ assemblies are not in crisis; quite the opposite. For political scientist Andri Heimann, the most exciting phase is just about to start.
What kind of democracy should Switzerland promote?
This content was published on
Switzerland’s distinctive understanding of democracy should not guide its work promoting democracy abroad, argues political scientist Daniel Bochsler.
Swiss public backs development aid even as politicians cut budgets
This content was published on
Most people support funding for development cooperation or would even like to see it increased, write Dina Pomeranz and Deborah Kistler.
Responsible sourcing programmes of chocolate companies have failed the stress test
This content was published on
Farmer poverty cannot be addressed through corporate commitments or investor dialogue with chocolate companies, argues Emma Farrell.
Smart cities and surveillance: why democracies must not lose control
This content was published on
The dominance of private companies in urban technology makes surveillance possible even in democratic systems like Switzerland, warns digital surveillance expert Jasmin Dall’Agnola.
Africa’s heritage in Switzerland: what should the mandate of museums be?
This content was published on
Restitution can play a central role in relations with African partners, says Samuel Bachmann, curator of the African collections at the Bern Historical Museum.
This content was published on
In Afghanistan, women and girls in particular are paying the price for failed policies. The Afghan Fund in Geneva should finally act to recapitalise the Central Bank, writes Norah Niland.
War in outer space is coming: Why Switzerland should play a role
This content was published on
The risk of military escalation in space is growing. Switzerland should take a stance on this issue, writes Clémence Piorier.
This content was published on
The initiative to cap the Swiss population at 10 million is not just about how much growth a country can absorb – it also raises the question of who gets to count as being fully part.
Why direct democracy is also a stage for political parties to fight for attention
This content was published on
Popular votes may appear to reflect the pure “will of the people,” but they also function as a stage for political parties, argues Dutch political scientist Toine Paulissen.
The Board of Peace must address the basic needs of the Palestinian population
This content was published on
Civilian safety and access to basic infrastructure must dominate the agenda of all Gaza peace talks, argues a Palestinian writer.
Governments and industry must work across the cocoa and gold sector to address child labour
This content was published on
Eliminating child labour in one sector risks merely displacing it into another unless complex social and economic systems are addressed comprehensively.
This content was published on
When the right to information is under threat on several continents, press freedom becomes a matter of democratic urgency, says the director-general of Reporters Without Borders.
‘International law is either universal or meaningless’
This content was published on
Alain Berset, former Swiss government minister and current Secretary General of the Council of Europe, argues that we are witnessing the return of a Cold War mind-set.
How Switzerland can move towards an independent digital future
This content was published on
Switzerland should free itself from its digital dependence on international big tech, writes David Sommer from the Digitale Gesellschaft.
This content was published on
Strong, independent media and a high level of media literacy are key to strengthening a population’s resilience to disinformation, says Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister.
What deportation opponents in the US can learn from Switzerland
This content was published on
Did Americans vote for the deportation raids in schools? Historian Lauren Stokes points to the lessons of Swiss direct democracy.
