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FYI phil Below I show the contents of a new book about democracy, produced by IRI-Europe. It's mainly about the Swiss practice, with much valuable information and experience. There's also a helpful summary of direct democratic procedures in 32 states of Europe. If you would like to review the book -- or publish a review -- please contact the editors or myself. Concerning direct democracy in Britain and N. Ireland, see the proposals and resources at Citizens' Initiative and Referendum I&R http://www.iniref.org <http://www.iniref.org> For new papers about several European countries follow the "conference" link. Regards Michael Macpherson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guidebook to Direct Democracy: i n s w i t z e r l a n d a n d b e y o n d the initiative & referendum institute europe <http://www.iri-europe.org/> http://www.iri-europe.org/ 2005 edition this publication has been sponsored by Presence Switzerland PRS (www.presence.ch) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (www.deza.ch). edited and produced by Bruno Kaufmann (coordinator) Rolf Büchi, Nadja Braun, Paul Carline CONTENTS PREFACE The globalisation of direct democracy By Joseph Deiss, President of the Swiss Confederation 2004 INTRODUCTION Initiatives & Referendums ESSAYS Making democracy more truly representative The year of decisions How a citizen deals with six elections and 30 referendums within ten months Citizens centre stage in politics When the people put their collective foot on the accelerator Back to the future The story of a democratic revolution at the heart of Europe As centralised as necessary, as decentralised as possible On modern federalism The land of the contented losers Direct democracy reveals where in society the shoe pinches Jura: democracy, not nationalism How the Jura was able to make itself independent without violence The myth of the incompetent citizen Direct-democratic rights have an effect on those who use these rights Out loud Why complete strangers suddenly start talking to each other in public Added-value voting A system which promotes growth strengthens society ? and makes people happier Design determines the quality Instructions for a citizen-friendly democracy The democratisation of democracy Switzerland's direct democracy, sophisticated as it is, is still far from perfect Utopia becomes reality From Norway to Taiwan and from New Zealand to Ecuador ? and now the EU! RESOURCES FACTSHEETS Election and referendum diary canton Zurich: 2003 Cantonal popular (referendum) votes: 1970-2003 Differences between pre-modern and modern democracy How the cantons can influence the writing of a new law Five stages in the genesis of a new law Postal voting Electronic voting ? the first real practice Direct democracy in the cantons Constitutional extracts from 1798, 1848, 1874 and 1999 On the development of direct democracy at the level of the Swiss federal state Voting behaviour in initiatives & referendums Popular initiatives, accepted by people and cantons Bandwidths of indirect and direct democracy Results of popular consultations in the Jura region Chronology of the Jura conflict (1815-2004) The Army XXI referendum on 18 May, 2003 The popular initiative "Equal rights for the disabled" Citizens' rights at the federal level in Switzerland The result of the parliamentary elections in 2003 The major initiators of popular initiatives & referendums The main issues of initiatives and referendums at the federal level and in the cantons Referendum votes on issues relating to foreigners in the Federation The law on the protection of water resources (1983-92) Restrictions on the constitutional initiative in Switzerland The expectations of the Swiss direct democracy movement in the 19th century Key points for free and fair referendums in Europe The economic effects of the use of direct democracy Important factors in the shaping of direct-democratic procedures Voting rights of Swiss citizens living or staying abroad SURVEYS All popular votes in Switzerland since 1848 Direct-democratic procedures and plebiscites in the constitutions of 32 European states Glossary of direct-democracy terms INFORMATION The Initiative & Referendum Institute Europe Index Note: This guidebook should be available from Swiss embassies.