Federal Democracy in Switzerland

This chapter investigates the relationship between federalism and democracy in Switzerland. It explores how the interaction between them has evolved over time in the Swiss system in relation, among other things, to the expansion of direct democracy, the changing nature of minorities and the representation of cantonal interests at the federal level. The chapter argues that, by and large, federalism and democracy have reinforced each other in Switzerland. However, there are also multiple sources of tensions between the two and significant challenges on the horizon. Despite the system's idiosyncrasies, Switzerland's experience thus offers some valuable lessons of wide relevance.