Swiss Democracy: Possible Solutions to Conflict in Multicultural Societies

An updated third edition of this authoriative analysis of Swiss democracy, the institutions of federalism, and consensus democracy through political power sharing. Linder analyses the scope and limits of citizen's participation in direct democracy, which distinguishes Switzerland from most parliamentary systems.

The features of Swiss democracy are frequently praised in theory but rarely assessed in practice. In this revised and updated third edition of Swiss Democracy Wolf Linder explains the way government and politics work in Switzerland. Combining the essence of many empirical studies with his own observations, and giving illustrative examples, the author thoroughly analyzes the institutions of federalism and consensus democracy through political power sharing. With the critical eye of a political scientist, Linder examines the scope and limits of the citizen's participation in direct democracy, which distinguishes Switzerland from most parliamentary systems.

The value of this book goes beyond describing Switzerland and its political integration of different languages, religions and cultures. Analyzing the nature of Swiss politics, Linder shows how federalism and political power-sharing could help to resolve political conflict in other multicultural societies and to integrate different communities.

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Linder (political science, U. of Bern) first analyzes the institutions of federalism and consensus democracy through political power-sharing, and then analyzes the scope and limits of citizens' participation in direct democracy--which distinguishes Switzerland most from parliamentary systems--showing how federalism and political power- sharing could help to resolve political conflict in other multicultural societies and to integrate different communities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

WOLF LINDER is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former Director of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern, Switzerland. His main research field is Swiss politics. Linder worked as an expert for national and international agencies in developing countries for questions of institutional power sharing, federalism and decentralization.