| Great Britain: Representative system | Switzerland: Semi-direct democracy system
|
|
Competition between parties and their governments. Winner takes all |
Cooperation of all political forces in government. Proportional representation
|
|
Periodical alternation of power because of elections |
Negotiation and power-sharing in legislation. No alternation of power
|
|
Political legitimation through changes in power or reelection of government satisfying voters expectations |
Institutional legitimation comes from participation: the most important decisions being taken by the people, important ones by parliament and the rest by government
|
|
Enactment of the political programme of the majority |
Integration of pluralistic values, minorities and of group interests; different coalitions on major issues
|
|
Policies for the people |
Politics through the people
|
|
Participation as a form of general and programmatic influence: voters elect a government and its programme for the entire legislative period
|
Participation as a form of 'one-issue' influence: people vote on specific questions. No strategic government policy
|