Archive – Democracy

Initiatives are losing some of their political appeal

This content was published on Dec 24, 2015 A look back in Swiss history shows that voters have had the final say on a total of 198 proposals since the introduction in the late 19th century of the right to launch initiatives, amending the constitution. Only 22 of them have won approval so far. To date about 440 initiatives have been launched, including…

Opinion

A ray of hope on a dark horizon

This content was published on Dec 21, 2015 ”It is a only a first step, but a very important one,” says Amal Y. Almoallimi, referring to the election on December 12 of almost 20 Saudi women to local councils across the oil-rich monarchy on the Arabian Peninsula region. Almoalimi is directing the so-called women section at the Riyadh-based Center for National Dialogue. She…

Rightwing MEPs seek Swiss recipe for independence

This content was published on Dec 19, 2015 Does Switzerland hold the secret to a successful existence in Europe but outside of the European Union?

Burka ban to be put to voters in Glarus

This content was published on Dec 16, 2015 On Wednesday the Glarus parliament approved a proposal, supported only by members of the conservative right Swiss People’s Party. The cantonal government, which opposed the proposal, must now prepare a bill on banning face coverings. It will be put to the local open-air assembly, in which all citizens in the canton can take part. This…

Record abstention rates in Switzerland under scrutiny

This content was published on Dec 15, 2015 “Passing from misinformed uncertainty to informed uncertainty, such is the goal of surveys and opinion polls in political science!” These were the words of political scientist Claude Longchamp, Switzerland’s best-known pollster, at a presentation of bachelor’s dissertations by students of the seminar “Inequality, democracy and participation,” at the Department of political science of Zurich UniversityExternal…

Opinion

Museums become catalysts for active citizenship

This content was published on Dec 15, 2015 Cultural institutions are not an obvious tool for advancing immigration reform and promoting tolerance. In fact, many people see museums and art galleries as only for people with degrees on their walls and money in their pockets, and as telling stories that only they want to hear. But museums have long played a starring role…

Initiative aims to scrap public broadcaster fees

This content was published on Dec 11, 2015 A new initiative aims to end the license fee system of funding public broadcasting.

‘The perfect system does not exist’

This content was published on Dec 11, 2015 Switzerland's system of direct democracy is one of most advanced in the world, so it is no wonder young democracies in South America are using it as a model.

Opinion

We need another kind of “war on terror”

This content was published on Dec 8, 2015 On that day I was on the road in neighbouring Los Angeles with my journalist colleague Joe Mathews (the California columnist and innovation editor of Zocalo Public SquareExternal link) and just about to meet the head of the LA Empowerment department Empowerment departmentExternal link, the coordination office of LA’s 96 neighbourhood councils, to discuss the options…

A good citizen is created ‘at home and in the classroom’

This content was published on Dec 2, 2015 Public affairs professor Daniel Schugurensky says Switzerland is a perfect example of how ordinary citizens can make good decisions.

Archive – Democracy

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Archive – Democracy

More

Initiatives are losing some of their political appeal

More

A ray of hope on a dark horizon

More

Rightwing MEPs seek Swiss recipe for independence

More

Burka ban to be put to voters in Glarus

More

Record abstention rates in Switzerland under scrutiny

More

Museums become catalysts for active citizenship

More

Initiative aims to scrap public broadcaster fees

More

‘The perfect system does not exist’

More

We need another kind of “war on terror”

More

A good citizen is created ‘at home and in the classroom’

Popular Stories

Most Discussed