Direct Democracy in Switzerland

Direct Democracy in Switzerland is a nonfiction work by political economist Gregory Fossedal, published in 2002 by Transaction Publishers and later issued by Routledge/Taylor & Francis. The book examines Switzerland’s unique model of direct democracy—through referendums, popular initiatives, and civic engagement—and its implications for democratic theory and practice.^[1]

The book is organized into five parts,^[2] with twenty chapters total:

• Foreword
  • By Alfred Berkeley
• Preface
  • By Richard Holbrooke
• Part I. Conception
  • Chapters: 1. Pilgrimage
• Part II. History
  • Chapters: 2. 1291; 3. Willensnation; 4. Geodeterminism
• Part III. Institutions
  • Chapters: 5. Constitution; 6. Executive Branch; 7. Judiciary; 8. Parliament; 9. Referendum; 10. Communities
• Part IV. Issues
  • Chapters: 11. Education; 12. Taxes; 13. Crime; 14. Welfare; 15. Press; 16. Family; 17. Army; 18. Switzerland Accused; 19. Diversity
• Part V. L’Idée Suisse
  • Chapter: 20. The End of History and the Next Citizen

In Direct Democracy in Switzerland, Fossedal presents Switzerland as the most developed example of a functioning direct democracy in the modern world. He argues that Swiss citizens do not merely influence government through periodic elections, but instead play an active legislative role through frequent referendums and citizens' initiatives. These mechanisms allow voters to approve or reject laws passed by parliament, propose constitutional amendments, and shape public policy in ways that are rare in other democracies. He explores how this system fosters civic responsibility among citizens—“Imagine living in a country where every single person was a member of parliament,” he asserts, highlighting direct democracy's empowering effect.^[3]

A recurring theme is the distribution of political power. Fossedal emphasizes that in Switzerland, sovereignty is understood to reside with the people in a tangible, operational sense—not merely as an abstract constitutional principle. He draws attention to the high frequency of popular votes, with national referendums occurring roughly four times a year, as well as the ability of cantons and municipalities to hold their own ballots on local issues.

The book also highlights the federal and communal structure of Swiss governance, in which decision-making authority is devolved to the smallest practical unit. This decentralization is presented as a safeguard for diversity in a country with four official languages, multiple religious traditions, and distinct regional cultures.

Fossedal examines a range of policy areas—including education, taxation, welfare, crime, family policy, and military service—showing how direct democracy influences both legislative content and political culture. He argues that citizen involvement encourages pragmatic compromise, as proposals must attract majority support across diverse constituencies.

Another key theme is civic responsibility. Fossedal suggests that direct democracy fosters a more informed and engaged citizenry, as individuals are called upon to make concrete decisions on complex issues. This, he claims, leads to a form of “citizen legislators” who share responsibility for the successes and failures of governance.

The book does not ignore potential downsides. Fossedal acknowledges criticisms such as the risk of “tyranny of the majority,” the possibility of populist measures targeting minority groups, and the challenge of ensuring informed decision-making on highly technical matters. However, he notes that "the fact that direct democracy can cut across so many cleavages means that maybe on one issue an Italian-speaker in Zurich will find a political alliance with someone from the Protestant minority in Zug. The fact that people are involved in changing combinations on different issues helps bind everything together."^[3] In other words, in some instances a Swiss voter will be in the majority, while in other instances they will be in the minority. It is rarely the case that a given voter is always in the minority or majority.

Ultimately, Fossedal positions Switzerland’s model as both a case study and a thought experiment—inviting readers to consider whether aspects of direct democracy could be adapted to larger, more complex societies, and what trade-offs would be required to do so.

Choice (P. V. Warwick): Fossedal surveys Swiss governmental institutions and political issues in order to make the case that the Swiss have developed a unique and perhaps superior model of democratic governance... [T]he argument that Swiss democracy is worth a close look [is] persuasive... [Good for] undergraduates and general readers with little prior knowledge of Swiss politics.^[4]