Direct Democracy in Western Europe: The Case of Switzerland

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Abstract
Institutions of direct democracy exist in many parts of the world, but most extensively in Switzerland and number of states in the US. Recently such institutions — popular initiative and referenda — have attracted increasing attention in Western Europe. Is this a sign of growing dissatisfaction with representative democracy? Does it signal a shift from the traditional nation-state to more complex political organizations? Is the historical process of European integration into a common market, monetary union, and even political unity promoted or obstructed by direct democracy? In the 19th century Switzerland emulated the US federal system and even “modeled” the Helvetian Federation on it.

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