The Swiss Democracy Foundation and its predecessor organisations, such as the Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe (IRI-Europe), have made significant contributions to numerous publications. The following is an overview of our most important publications in collaboration with our partner organisations.
After the unipolar moment following 1989, the world quickly entered an era of heightened polarisation and rapid authoritarian resurgence. Democracy has been in retreat globally for almost 20 years. Trust in political institutions is eroding. Democratic principles, values and political culture are being questioned and undermined. However, the demand for participation, inclusive decision-making, the rule of law and accountability remains high around the globe. Democracy in all its varieties remains a powerful idea to unite around.
In this volume, policy-makers, experts from academia and diplomacy as well as democracy activists share their perspectives on some of the challenges democracies face today. They propose innovative new lines of action and discuss rejuvenated, impact-oriented and nuanced approaches to democracy promotion, in a spirit of partnership and adapted to a fractured world
Editor Simon Geissbühler
Contributions by Erika Schläppi, Bruno Kaufmann, Richard Youngs, Lukas Probst Lopez, Hannah Roberts, Idayat Hassan, Bruno Maçães, Daniel Bochsler, Andreas Juon, Alonso Villalobos-Jiménez and Patricia Danzi
Publication 2023
Published by LIT Verlag
Language English
The Swiss Democracy Passport provides information on the principles, procedures and practices at all political levels in Switzerland - and is intended to be a useful and informative companion for anyone interested in the future of democracy - and in Switzerland as an interesting and fascinating example.
This edition of the Swiss Democracy Passport focuses on the contemporary interplay between indirect and direct democracy. We are interested in developing further editions with a different focus and in other languages. If you would like to work with us on such new editions - or if you have any feedback, comments, corrections or updates to this edition (2022/23), please get in touch.
The Swiss Democracy Passport is available in physical form for a nominal fee from the Swiss Democracy Foundation and is particularly suitable for use in schools and educational institutions.
Authors Bruno Kaufmann, Stefanie Bosshard, Joe Mathews, Caroline Vernaillen
Publication 2023
Published by Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA, Swiss Democracy Foundation
Languages English
In collaboration with International IDEA, Zocalo Public Square, The European Economic and Social Committee, the City of Falun, Democracy Garage, Mehr Demokratie e.V., Omnibus für Direkte Demokratie, Korea Democracy Foundation, SWI swissinfo.ch, the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Ministry, the Center for Democracy Studies Aarau, Conférence Suisse des délégué-e-s l’égalité and CH 2021.
Direct democracy is of enormous importance for politics and society in Switzerland and makes the Swiss political system unique in the world. The advantages and disadvantages of direct democratic participation through referendums are the subject of lively debate among researchers, politicians and the public both in Switzerland and abroad. This edited volume offers new insights into the functioning of direct democracy, drawing on a unique wealth of practical experience and data from 170 years of voting history in Switzerland.
Authors Hans-Peter Schaub, Marc Bühlmann
Publication 2022
Published by Seismo Verlag Sozialwissenschaften und Gesellschaftsfragen AG
Language German
Foreword from Adrian Schmid, Bruno Kaufmann
With contributions from Nadja Braun Binder, Marc Bühlmann, Martina Flick Witzig, Karin Frick, Marlène Gerber, Anja Heidelberger, Julien Jaquet, Wolf Linder, Thomas Milic, Sean Mueller, Philippe E. Rochat, Sophie Ruprecht, Hans-Peter Schaub, Pascal Sciarini, Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen, Adrian Vatter
The European Democracy Passport, available in 24 official languages, facilitates citizen participation in the European Union, the world's largest transnational democracy with 28 Member States, 500 regions and more than 100,000 municipalities.
The European Democracy Passport connects people and ideas with institutions and decisions. With its advice and recommendations, the passport-style publication is a good way for citizens to make their voices heard.
Whatever you want to do as a citizen - complain, solve a problem, exercise your consumer power, debate or petition - this little booklet in your own language can be the key to success and change. Get it, use it and pass it on. It is your voice! It is your Europe! It's your passport to active citizenship!
Author Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2020
Published by International IDEA, Embassy of Switzerland in Sweden, Swiss Democracy Foundation
Languages - available in 24 languages, amongst them: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slowak, Slowenian, Swedish
The Global Passport to Modern Direct Democracy provides basic information on the tools of modern direct democracy. It introduces key definitions, describes different instruments and gives recommendations on how to use initiatives, referendums and plebiscites.
Author Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2017
Published by International IDEA, Embassy of Switzerland in Sweden, Swiss Democracy Foundation
Languages English, Japanese, Korean, Italian
The guides on modern direct democracy offer different entry points into the topic: twelve introductory essays present the main contexts and challenges, the numerous fact sheets provide a more in-depth factual and analytical basis on a selection of specific topics, and the concluding overviews contain further material, facts and links on the institutions and practice of direct democracy around the world.
The guides are not limited to Switzerland, however, but place the country's rich experience in the European and global context, where the right to political participation is being extended to more and more people in more and more countries, and goes far beyond the election of political parties and their representatives to the possibility of influencing the political agenda through initiatives and deciding important issues through referendums.
The guides to direct democracy are available in ten languages. The content is the result of years of work by the authors and the editorial team. Many people and institutions have directly or indirectly contributed to this work.
Authors Bruno Kaufmann, Rolf Büchi, Nadja Braun
Publication 2010
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
In cooperation with Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Presence Switzerland
This handbook on the European Citizens' Initiative contains facts and analyses, recommendations and proposals and is your guide to the Reform Treaty on the first transnational democracy in the making. This handbook contains contributions from authors such as Margot Wallström, Jo Leinen, Diana Wallis, Andi Gross, Jessica Pennet, Carsten Berg, Helena Gonzales-Sanchez Bodero, Stephen Boucher, Dana Csizmadia, Søren Lundby, Richard Laming, Daniel Schily, Jürgen Meyer, Michael Efler, Gerrit Rauws, Gabriel Fragnière, Bruno Kaufmann and many others.
Authors Carsten Berg, Paul Carline, Diana Wallis, Jo Leinen, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2003
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
With contributions by Margot Wallström, Jo Leinen, Diana Wallis, Andreas Gross, Jessica Pennet, Carsten Berg, Helena Gonzales-Sanchez Bodero, Stephen Boucher, Dana Csizmadia, Søren Lundby, Richard Laming, Daniel Schily, Jürgen Meyer, Michael Efler, Gerrit Rauws, Gabriel Fragnière, Bruno Kaufmann und vielen anderen.
In cooperation with Balkan Assist, Marburg University, C2D, Notre Europe, FRLD, International IDEA, democratie.nu, EPP, PSE, Green/EFA, ALDE, Center for Citizenship Education, European Citizens Initiative Campaign, European Trade Unions, Disability Forum, Eliant und the Union of European Federalists.
This publication documents the proposals for a European Citizens' Initiative and a pan-European referendum in the debate following the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty in referendums in France and the Netherlands. It served as a basis for the revised version of the ECI in the Lisbon Treaty.
Authors Theo Schiller, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2005
Published by IRI-Europe, Democracy International e.V.
Language English
The IRI Europe Toolkit for Free and Fair Referendums and Citizens’ Initiatives.
Authors Andreas Gross, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2002
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
With Contributions by Andreas Gross, Paul Carline, Jüri Ruus, Nadja Braun, Rolf Büchi, Henrik Dahlsson and Palle Svensson
Swiss and European Contributions on the Possibilities and Limits of Direct Democracy in the European Integration Process. With a foreword by Micheline Calmy-Rey, then Federal Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.
Authors Fabrice Filliez, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2004
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
The complete documentation of how the European Citizens' Initiative in the 2002/2003 European Convention became the Constitutional Treaty.
"A must for anyone who wants to understand one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of democracy". (Giuliano Amato)
Authors Bruno Kaufmann, Alain Lamassoure, Jürgen Meyer
Publication 2003
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
At the time of publication the IRI Report offered for the first time a list of key aspects for rating and ranking countries regarding modern direct democracy. The Report includes 32 European countries.
Authors Andreas Gross, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 2002
Published by IRI-Europe
Language English
This book presents the first proposals developed for a European Citizens' Initiative and other forms of transnational participatory and direct democracy. It also introduces the concept and terminology of 'transnational democracy' with historical references and theoretical explanations.
Authors Roland Erne, Andreas Gross, Heinz Kleger, Bruno Kaufmann
Publication 1995
Published by Realotopia Verlagsgenossenschaft
Language German