Original scientific paper

Direct Democracy – the Swiss Experience

Hanspeter Kriesi ; Department of Political Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

In this paper, the author points to the need for conducting an in-depth study of the claim that representative democracy leads to intense political alienation and that it is in its final stage of decline. In an attempt to reconsider the origins and future of representative government, the author points out that the fundamental concepts of representative democracy should first be included in the agenda, so as to reconsider the classical interpretations of historical origins and modern development of the ideal of representative government. Second, the paper points out that it is necessary to examine the performance of existing representative democracies, considering the various challenges and pressures with which they are faced today. Third, in an eff ort to point at the future of representative democracy, the author suggests that we rethink Tocqueville’s famous claim that one of the great virtues of democracy is that it makes “errors that can be corrected”, wondering if this Tocqueville’s insight applies to actually existing democracies.

Keywords

direct democracy; direct democracy in Switzerland; compulsory referendum; optional referendum; popular initiative; success of direct-democratic instruments

Hrčak ID:

29096

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/29096

Publication date:

1.2.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 4.386 *