Politics and administration
Direct Democracy in the Communes
In 2023, a book was published providing an overview detailing the basics of direct democracy in the communes and showing its outstanding significance for the political system in Switzerland. It was compiled by the two political scientists Adrian Vatter and Martina Flick Witzig.
Switzerland is the undisputed champion of direct democracy. In no other country are the direct decision-making powers of citizens in substantive matters as extensive and nowhere are they carried out so intensively as they are in the Swiss Confederation. “Correspondingly, Switzerland offers a unique stock of empirical data and findings on the functioning and effectiveness of direct democracy,” says Adrian Vatter from the Institute of Political Science. Nevertheless, there had never been an overview or a book detailing the basics on the institutions and practice of the direct powers of citizens at communal level. Previous book publications on direct democracy in Switzerland focus almost exclusively on votes at cantonal and federal level. In 2023, Adrian Vatter and Martina Flick Witzig published a book that closed this gap: “Direkte Demokratie in den Gemeinden” (Direct Democracy in the Communes) is an in-depth presentation and analysis of direct democracy in the communes and cities of Switzerland. It was launched at an exhibition in the Polit-Forum Bern (Political Forum in Bern).