To my mother and father

The Referendum:
Direct Democracy in Switzerland

KRIS WILLIAM KOBACH
(1966-   )
Yale University

1993

Contents

List of tables viii
Acknowledgements x
Introduction 1
  • The significance of referendums in the world today 4
  • The questions posed 9
  1. The development of the referendum in Switzerland 13
    • Early direct democracy 16
    • The rise of the referendum: revolution, restoration, and regeneration 18
    • 1847-1891: The dawn of the federal referendum 23
    • 1891-1945: Direct democracy on the road to consensual politics 30
    • Direct democracy in the postwar period 35
    • The mechanisms of direct democracy today 41
    • An historical overview 46
    • Is Switzerland sui generis? 50
  2. The theoretical role of the referendum 56
    • Direct versus representative democracy 56
    • Consensual versus majoritarian democracy 58
    • Central issues in the referendum debate 61
  3. Trends in the exercise of direct democracy 70
    • Participation levels 79
    • Referendum outcomes 86
  4. The rise and impact of the initiative 93
    • The postwar surge of initiatives 93
    • Explaining the increase 95
    • Success at the polls 102
    • The initiative as a bargaining chip 104
    • Other uses of initiatives 111
    • General observations 113
  5. Parties, interest groups, and the expression of opinion 122
    • The effect of the referendum upon Swiss parties 122
    • The effect of the referendum upon Swiss interest groups 127
    • The initiative entrepreneur 134
    • Consultation and corporatism 136
    • The exploitation of apathy 138
  6. The legislative process in the shadow of the referendum 144
    • The legislative process in Switzerland 145
    • The impact of direct democracy upon legislative functions 155
    • The impact of direct democracy upon parliamentary behavior 160
    • General effects of the referendum upon the Swiss legislature 175
  7. Case studies 186
    • The referendum on Swiss entry into the United Nations 187
    • Observations 199
    • The initiative to abolish the army 204
    • Observations 213
  8. A comparative perspective 219
    • Australia 220
    • Italy 228
    • California 236
    • General observations 246
    • Improving the device 247
  9. Conclusions 252
    • The initial questions answered 252
Bibliography 263

Primary sources 263

Secondary sources 268