Connecting Minorities to the Swiss Federal System: A Frozen Conception of Representation and the Problem of “Requisite Variety”

Yannis Papadopoulos

Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 2002, vol. 32, issue 3, 47-66

Abstract: Heterogeneous Switzerland is often portrayed as a model of successful nation-building. Two major institutions ensure the representation of federal units within the federal political system: the Council of States branch of the bicameral legislature, and the “double majority” of popular and cantonal votes needed in constitutional referenda. It was expected that both mechanisms would counter centrifugal forces possibly created by the self-government of subnational groups. Historical analysis shows, however, that since these institutions were established, some important social transformations have occurred, with perverse effects on minority representation and on cleavage accommodation. The Council of States has come to amplify the influence of established political forces, instead of defending minority influence. The “double majority” now gives excessive veto power to minorities no longer socially relevant, at the expense of newer, more needy groups. National cohesion and consensus democracy, in short, risk being eroded rather than strengthened by these core institutions of the Swiss federal system. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.

Date: 2002
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/ (application/pdf)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:publus:v:32:y:2002:i:3:p:47-66

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://academic.oup.com/journals

Access Statistics for this article

Publius: The Journal of Federalism is currently edited by Paul Nolette and Philip Rocco

More articles in Publius: The Journal of Federalism from CSF Associates Inc. Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Oxford University Press ().