Cluster: Democracy

How an orchestra drums up vote support

This content was published on May 23, 2016 It’s the beginning of May, just one month before voters in the city of Zurich will be asked approve a CHF240 million ($251 million) schemeExternal link that includes the renovation of the TonhalleExternal link building and the adjoining Congress HouseExternal link. The Tonhalle has thrown open its doors to the public, inviting them to a…

Democracy

Fear and fascination with a basic income

This content was published on May 21, 2016 It is a warm May evening in Basel. Daniel Häni leaves a panelled conference room and heads to a nearby café in the old city. He has just presented the idea of an unconditional basic income to the local conservative right Swiss People’s Party. The result was foreseeable. None of the 60 or so participants…

Democracy

Defining victory in a direct democracy

This content was published on May 18, 2016 Winners versus losers, leftwing versus rightwing – the political process is full of rhetoric that separates people and issues into categories.

Democracy

Public sector worker pay under the microscope

This content was published on May 18, 2016 One of the aims of the “Pro Public Services” initiative is to restrict wages to the same levels as those earned by civil servants and other people who work directly for the federal administration. For example, chief executives should not earn more than a government minister (CHF475,000), according to the initiative. Swisscom boss Urs Schaeppi…

Democracy

A spoof initiative claims victory despite failure

This content was published on May 17, 2016 The proposal was launched 18 months ago and caused considerable amusement in the media near and far. It was a “political work of art”, says Christian Mueller, the man behind the action that will come to an unspectacular end on Wednesday. The idea was a protest against a rightwing initiative, approved by voters in 2010,…

Democracy

What the Swiss can learn about e-campaigning

This content was published on May 17, 2016 Amelia ShowalterExternal link, 32, served as Director of Digital Analytics for Obama in 2012, leading a team which implemented hundreds of experiments to improve the performance of digital outreach. Now she gives courses on e-campaigning. At the end of April she was in Zurich for training on digital acquisition, which was organised by KampagnenforumExternal link.…

Democracy

Direct democracy enters digital age

This content was published on May 17, 2016 One click to select the topic, three fields to fill in (surname, first name, email) and, hey presto, you receive a form that you can print out, sign, fold in two and slip into a mailbox – the postage is paid by the recipient. From now on, this method of collecting signatures for the tools…

Opinion

Democracy

‘Asylum law revision heads in wrong direction’

This content was published on May 14, 2016 Switzerland needs more systematic border controls as well as an improved system to repatriate illegal immigrants, she argues. True refugees, who have to fear for their lives and limbs, should certainly receive aid and protection – there is no question about that. It corresponds to Switzerland’s long-standing humanitarian asylum tradition, which we certainly want to…

Opinion

Democracy

‘We need to solve problems in our asylum system, not create them’

This content was published on May 14, 2016 In the face of the humanitarian refugee crisis, we need to solve the problems in our asylum system – not create them. But by launching yet another referendum, this is exactly what the Swiss People’s Party is trying to do, Glättli argues. For decades, Switzerland’s asylum policy has been faced with significant symbolic disputes. On…

Opinion

Democracy

The waves created by electing a Muslim mayor for London

This content was published on May 10, 2016 The event has been considered “a piece of history” with Khan being regarded as the first and most powerful Muslim politician in Europe. Historically speaking, the novelty of the event is a construct that reinforces the view that Europe holds a united identity because it has historically been Christian (and additionally, implicitly white). This supposedly…

Cluster: Democracy

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Cluster: Democracy

More

How an orchestra drums up vote support

More

Fear and fascination with a basic income

More

Defining victory in a direct democracy

More

Public sector worker pay under the microscope

More

A spoof initiative claims victory despite failure

More

What the Swiss can learn about e-campaigning

More

Direct democracy enters digital age

More

‘Asylum law revision heads in wrong direction’

More

‘We need to solve problems in our asylum system, not create them’

More

The waves created by electing a Muslim mayor for London

Popular Stories

Most Discussed