A Letter From Switzerland: Where the People Have the Veto
How Giving Voters the Power to Cancel Laws Changes Lawmaking for the Better
What are the obstacles and opportunities facing democracy today? Zócalo is publishing a series of letters to highlight how the world’s democratic ideals are faring in practice. From Switzerland: Political economist Stephan Kyburz shares how the “people’s veto” and the inclusive consultation process that it has inspired make for potent citizen-led politics.
Switzerland’s direct democracy is powerful and well-known. But there are two pieces of it that I think are too obscure: the referendum, or “people’s veto,” and the inclusive consultation process that it has inspired over time.
Here, on the national and local …