Lectures, Direct Democracy in Switzerland

Swiss citizens cast a ballot about four times a year on average. In Switzerland, citizens can decide on a vast variety of topics ranging from immigration, defense to social issues. The frequent use of direct democracy instruments (referendums and popular initiatives) even makes the Swiss the world’s most frequent voters. This course aims to introduce students to the politics of direct democracy in Switzerland at both the federal and cantonal levels. After introducing the theories and origins of direct democracy, we will discuss the various instruments of direct democracy, the campaigns and voting process, and its impact on the political agenda. Finally, we will also examine the challenges of direct democracy, mainly the citizens’ competence. At the end of this course, students will understand the main theories of direct democracy, their empirical applications, and their critique.