Table of Contents

1. The development of the modern Swiss nation-state; 2. Neutrality; 3. Federalism; 4. Direct democracy; 5. The Swiss system of government; 6. The party system; 7. Interest associations and labour relations; 8. The decision-making process; 9. Economic policy: liberalization under constraints; 10. Social policy: the Swiss welfare state; 11. Foreign policy: Switzerland and the EU.

Promotional Information

An authoritative survey of the processes and policies of the Swiss political system, revealing the richness of its history and institutions.

About the Author

Hanspeter Kriesi is Professor for Comparative Politics in the Department of Political Science at the University of Zurich. Alexander H. Trechsel is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute, Florence.

Reviews

'A superb book on Swiss politics by two of the most prominent scholars in the field. Kriesi and Trechsel provide an excellent introduction to a fascinating political system whose relevance to the rest of the world is inversely proportional to its size.' Paolo Dardanelli, Lecturer in European and Comparative Politics, University of Kent 'The Politics of Switzerland provides scholars and the interested public with an overview over the political institutions, the main actors, and the main policies in the alpine Republic. This up-to-date text provides the most accessible introduction to the Swiss political system in English. It is a must-read for any scholar or student wishing to be introduced to the way in which the archetypical consensus democracy developed and functions today.' Simon Hug, Universite de Geneve