Eppure si muove: the changing nature of the Swiss consensus democracy

Abstract:

Recent contributions have highlighted the stability of consensus, corporatism and consociationalism in Switzerland. Looking through finer-grained lenses, I analyse changes in decision-making processes and related power, co-operation and conflict structures. To that end, my research is grounded on an analysis of the most important processes of the early 2000s, and on a comparison with a similar study carried out in the 1970s. The data stem from a rich collection of more than 300 interviews carried out with members of the political élite, which I examine with tools from social network analysis. I identify some major changes with respect to both decision-making processes and structures, such as the weakening of corporatist arrangements in the preparatory phase and the reinforcement of Parliament, and the shift in the balance of power between governing parties and interest groups. My study highlights the changing nature of the Swiss consensus democracy and pinpoints the related driving factors, particularly Europeanization.