Abstract A growing body of work has examined the relationship between media and politics from an agenda‐setting perspective: Is attention for issues initiated by political elites with following suit, or is reverse relation stronger? long series single‐country studies suggested a number general patterns but these have never been confirmed in comparative approach. In comparative, longitudinal design including comparable evidence seven European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands,...

Abstract. Referendums impose considerable informational demands on voters. Recent theoretical and empirical research has emphasized the different shortcuts heuristics they may employ in deciding how to vote. Relying a substantial series of votes at national level Switzerland, we provide tests Swiss voters cope with referendum voting. We combine simple heuristics, like partisan cues endorsements, indicators instrumental interests explain citizens’ choices votes.

Abstract. Direct democratic institutions, while centrepieces of the Swiss political system, find themselves under attack. In this article, we challenge widespread criticism that popular rights increasingly limit elite's control decisionmaking process. Our analysis is based on aggregate data all acts voted by Parliament since 1947 – those brought about initiatives or subject to optional and mandatory referendum individual survey most federal votes held 1981. We underline high support...

Referendums have received increasing attention after the recent round of votes on Maastricht treaty and widening process European Union. Despite this increased interest in these instruments decision making, scholarship has not provided us with insights into relationship between institutional characteristics voter's decision. The authors provide a theoretical argument how choice is affected by nature referendum. Relevant factors are whether referendum required, people's binding character, or...

Journal Article Turnout Bias in Postelection Surveys: Political Involvement, Survey Participation, and Vote Overreporting Get access Pascal Sciarini, Sciarini * Address correspondence to Department of Science International Relations, University Geneva, 40 Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; E-mail: pascal.sciarini@unige.ch . Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Andreas C. Goldberg Statistics Methodology, Volume Issue 1, March 2016, Pages...

Collaboration between actors in political decision-making processes is crucial from both an actor and a process perspective. Previous studies have highlighted the role of preference similarity, power, opportunity structures as drivers collaboration. However, these focused on single policy sectors therefore overlooked possible differences effects across sectors, well interactions sectors. This article innovates by taking cross-sector Applying exponential random graph models to collaboration...

Empirical evidence suggests that e-voting has no measurable effects on turnout. However, existing studies did (or could) not look at the individual level. We innovate by analyzing whether and to what extent availability of fosters turnout among specific groups citizens, how this influences equality participation. To end, we estimate Bayesian multi-level models a unique set official data citizens' participation covering 30 ballots between 2008 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland, which most...

Abstract Under which conditions do politicians listen to scientific experts in a crisis? This study addresses this question by assessing how the Swiss government implemented 186 policy recommendations formulated National COVID‐19 Science Task Force (STF) combat spread of virus and alleviate its impact on health system, society economy during first year pandemic. Results multiple regression analyses show that problem pressure propensity implement experts' varies over time: it was considerably...

Abstract Applying a consideration set approach to panel data, we contribute the literature on intra‐bloc voting by studying vote for Greens and Social Democrats in 2019 Swiss elections. Theoretically, because two parties are ideologically programmatically so similar, argue that potential left‐wing voters have hard time making final choice based issue positions, rely instead their evaluations of parties' competence. The empirical tests partly support our expectations. Maintaining or shifting...

This article contributes to the debate on domestic consequences of European integration by focusing three aspects often neglected in literature. First, while most works deal with policy dimension Europeanization, we develop a set research hypotheses its polity and politics implications. Its institutions decision-making process, élite conflictuality power configuration are examined. Secondly, close attention is paid transmission mechanisms at work comparing effects 'direct' 'indirect'...

While negative campaigning has received increased attention, scholars have mostly focused on its effects. Studies looking at the determinants of remain sparse. Our article contributes to literature by developing a two-level model that takes into account strategic choices political actors and their characteristics as well context in which strategy place. We apply our rich data set newspaper ads regarding direct democratic votes held Switzerland. results show campaigning, measured personal...

Abstract Although studies of the influence Europeanisation on domestic politics and institutions are numerous, a consistent systematic analytical framework is still lacking. This article tries to overcome this weakness presents comprehensive that examines conditions under which likely lead national adaptation. We identify three main independent variables, including power configurations, mediating institutions, actors' strategies. model applied agreement free movement persons between...

Since Kriesi's (1980) pioneering work no study has attempted to provide an overall picture of power configuration among the Swiss political elite. To fill this gap we aggregate recent network analyses carried out in various policy domains. Based on meta‐hypotheses regarding likely effects contextual changes that have taken place during last thirty years, compare structure elite existing 1970s decade with respect reputational power, collaboration and conflict. Our results suggest important...

ABSTRACTRecent contributions have highlighted the stability of consensus, corporatism and consociationalism in Switzerland. Looking through finer-grained lenses, I analyse changes decision-making processes related power, co-operation conflict structures. To that end, my research is grounded on an analysis most important early 2000s, a comparison with similar study carried out 1970s. The data stem from rich collection more than 300 interviews members political élite, which examine tools...

AbstractThis study investigates the connection between legislative and electoral politics in Switzerland. The authors postulate that party unity is higher an election year, more specifically votes on issues are important for platform of greater visibility to voters. analyse entire voting record Swiss parliament (lower house) acts 1996 2007, which consists roll call as well unpublished votes. find a strong effect elections among certain parties, also encouraging support hypotheses this...

Previous studies have demonstrated that the extent to which media coverage influences issue priorities of policy makers is contingent on type issue, media, and political agenda. This article contends relationship between agendas varies across phases decision-making process. Based a comprehensive dataset attention in various policy-making channels covering years 1996–2003, analyses level and, more importantly, distribution correspondence four successive process (initiation, preparatory,...

Abstract Policy actors tend to misinterpret and distrust opponents in policy processes. This phenomenon, known as the “devil shift”, consists of following two dimensions: perceive more powerful evil than they really are. Analysing nine processes Switzerland, this article highlights drivers devil shift at levels. On actor level, interest groups, political parties suffer from state powerless actors. process is stronger dealing with socio-economic issues compared other issues. Finally, line...

In 2004 the Swiss people accepted a new equalization scheme and distribution of competences between federal state cantons. It was argued that reform successful because capacity veto-players to overcome their interests adopt 'problem-solving' interaction mode. We propose different interpretation argue distributive issues accommodation actors' crucially mattered. identify three mechanisms contribute reform, i.e. package-deals, side-payments downsizing reform. Our in-depth, mainly qualitative...

Abstract While electoral research usually distinguishes voters from abstainers, in the Swiss direct democratic context one needs to take into account a third category of citizens, selective voters, who decide anew at each vote whether they will participate or not. This article offers an investigation this common but under‐researched form participation. To that end, we advantage unique data‐set linking official turnout data with survey data. Our results show constitute bulk electorate....

This article compares the Swiss and Norwegian European policies. It combines an analysis of sectoral interests among elite, based on a qualification Katzenstein's small‐state/flexible adjustment thesis, referendum behaviour, survey data. At first level, it shows that structure each state's economic dependence Union (EU), one hand, threat liberalization domestic sectors economy, other, were more decisive than ‘liberal’ or ‘social’ pattern adaptation to international changes in shaping elite's...