Cluster: Democracy

Calls to curb use of people’s initiatives intensify

This content was published on May 31, 2015 Should it be harder to launch initiatives given the problems encountered in recent years with proposals accepted by the people but run contrary to international laws signed by Switzerland? Even if so, building a political majority ready to sacrifice part of the people’s sovereignty would appear to be nigh on impossible. At present, some 15…

Opinion

Democracy

Matching Minds, Global Opportunities

This content was published on May 29, 2015 The Arab world’s first democracy has made a historic step forward, after the Tunis Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy, writes Bruno Kaufmann, editor-in-chief at people2power.info.

Democracy

Democracy as a balancing act

This content was published on May 22, 2015 The hundreds of participants from nearly 40 countries,External link including high-ranking Tunisian politicians, called for vigilance towards the networks of the old regime, which are regrouping. Together with lawmakers, party representatives, trade unions and members of civil society, intellectuals, democracy activists and bloggers were in agreement in Tunis that the path they have set out…

Bioethics: too complex for direct democracy?

This content was published on May 18, 2015 As the Swiss weigh up whether to allow the screening of IVF embryos, how do voters inform themselves on complex emotional issues?

Democracy

Tunisian elders nurture decentralisation impetus

This content was published on May 14, 2015 Devolution of power and decision-making has been key to Switzerland’s extremely stable political system, and the outside world has been increasingly curious about the Alpine nation’s set-up. Gross will be in Tunis for the 2015 Global Forum on Modern Direct DemocracyExternal link from May 14-17, where he was be a keynote speaker. A historian and…

Democracy

‘Tunisian exception’ teaches democratic lessons

This content was published on May 14, 2015 Yadh Ben Achour, who was central in preparing the country’s political reforms, says that, despite security threats, Tunisia is progressing steadily along the path to democracy. A new constitution has been adopted and a new elected parliament and president are in place. swissinfo.ch spoke to Ben Achour, president of the “High Council for the Realisation…

Democracy

Why the Swiss may have a cure for flawed democracies

This content was published on May 13, 2015 Italian-born Zaquini is a member of the local parliament in the town of Le Locle in northwestern Switzerland. The trained engineer emigrated from his native town of Iseo in northern Italy to Switzerland in the late 1990s where he was teaching at a technical college. His book La democrazia diretta vista da vicinoExternal link (Close…

Democracy

Inheritance tax wins no favours in opinion poll

This content was published on May 8, 2015 A poll commissioned by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) – swissinfo.ch’s parent company – found that opponents of a nationwide inheritance tax have a 13-point lead nearly seven weeks ahead of the June 14 vote. “The case seems to be clear,” says political scientist Martina Imfeld of the leading GfS Bern research and polling institute,…

Democracy

Businesses benefit from citizens’ involvement

This content was published on May 6, 2015 In the following interview with swissinfo.ch, Stutzer says a global comparisonExternal link by the IMD business school shows countries where forms of direct democracy are exercised doing very well both in terms of economic well-being and competitive edge. Stutzer, a professor of economics at the University of BaselExternal link, says political stability is crucial for…

Opinion

Democracy

How does Switzerland matter for the British elections?

This content was published on May 4, 2015 The UK could learn a few things from non-member Switzerland, writes Pieter Cleppe of the Brussels think tank, Open Europe.

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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Calls to curb use of people’s initiatives intensify

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Matching Minds, Global Opportunities

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Democracy as a balancing act

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Bioethics: too complex for direct democracy?

More

Tunisian elders nurture decentralisation impetus

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‘Tunisian exception’ teaches democratic lessons

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Why the Swiss may have a cure for flawed democracies

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Inheritance tax wins no favours in opinion poll

More

Businesses benefit from citizens’ involvement

More

How does Switzerland matter for the British elections?

Popular Stories

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