Cluster: Democracy

‘Fair food’ initiative to be put to the vote

This content was published on Nov 26, 2015 The party submitted 105,631 signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern on Thursday in support of an initiative demanding that food imports should be socially equitable and environmentally responsible. “It’s the only concrete response to the new free trade agreement with the United States,” the Green Party said in a statement, referring to the 12-nation…

Democracy

Participatory democracy

This content was published on Nov 25, 2015 The three-day event, hosted by the Arizona State University in Phoenix on December 3-5, brings together researchers, academics and policy-makers under the title ‘By the People: Participatory democracy, public engagement and citizenship education’. For further details click hereExternal link.

Footpath impasse is a ‘slap in the face’ for voters

This content was published on Nov 24, 2015 The Swiss vote on pretty much everything. But implementing controversial local ballot box decisions can be a major headache.

Democracy

How Swiss is direct democracy in Paris and Madrid?

This content was published on Nov 20, 2015 In September, Madrid launched a platform inviting citizens to present their ideas. They are put to a public vote if they have a minimum amount of support from the population. The mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, admits she was fascinated by the model of Switzerland. Carmena, a former member of a United Nations committee on…

Democracy

‘Switzerland is the gold standard for direct democracy’

This content was published on Nov 17, 2015 Comparative politics is David Altman’s job. The professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica in Chile is co-leader of the research project V-Dem, in which a group of 3,000 researchers has established 400 indicators to monitor democracy in 200 countries (for details, see box below). In 2014 he published the book “Direct Democracy Worldwide.” AltmanExternal link was…

Democracy

Making the voices of Switzerland’s young expats heard

This content was published on Nov 15, 2015 The first task of the Youth Parliament of the Swiss Abroad (as they call themselves) was to elect a steering committee to coordinate their activities, represent their interests, and promote their issues. The committee now has 13 members. They live in various parts of the globe and were chosen from a list of 17 candidates.…

Democracy

Changing a mountain resort one vote at a time

This content was published on Nov 12, 2015 Located at equal distance between the bigger and more luxurious resorts of Gstaad and Villars, Les Diablerets, in western Switzerland, has firmly identified itself over the years as a family resort. It has attracted generations of guests, most of whom return to their secondary homes during holidays and weekends, and who are often satisfied with…

Democracy

Crime prevention campaign fails to win backing

This content was published on Nov 10, 2015 The Federal Chancellery said on Tuesday the deadline for two separate initiatives had run out for a committee led by a prominent activist to hand in at least 100,000 signatures needed to force a vote. Anita Chaaban, the woman behind the initiative conceded defeat last month, quoting financial as well as personal problems within the…

Opinion

Democracy

Direct democracy makes war-ridden Afghanistan a better place

This content was published on Nov 7, 2015 In the absence of functional government institutions, people have to handle their problems through existed traditional mechanisms. One of the oldest Afghan traditional mechanisms is Jirga or assembly that has widely been used for resolving problems at village, district, provincial, regional or even national levels. The Jirga or assembly usually consists of elites, Maliks and,…

Democracy

Swiss democracy at risk from populism, media and globalisation

This content was published on Nov 2, 2015 At stake are extended citizen participation in the management of public affairs and the autonomy of the local policy decision process, he says in an interview with swissinfo. The 51-year-old expert on Islam in Switzerland is a former member of the local parliament for the leftwing Social Democratic Party in the town of Romont in…

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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‘Fair food’ initiative to be put to the vote

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Participatory democracy

More

Footpath impasse is a ‘slap in the face’ for voters

More

How Swiss is direct democracy in Paris and Madrid?

More

‘Switzerland is the gold standard for direct democracy’

More

Making the voices of Switzerland’s young expats heard

More

Changing a mountain resort one vote at a time

More

Crime prevention campaign fails to win backing

More

Direct democracy makes war-ridden Afghanistan a better place

More

Swiss democracy at risk from populism, media and globalisation

Popular Stories

Most Discussed