Lecture

Swiss Political Landscape: Parties and Decision-Making

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In courses (2)

HUM-422: Understanding modern Switzerland I

This course provides a general introduction to Swiss history, its culture, its economy and its political system since 1848 until today. ...

HUM-465: Understanding modern Switzerland II

Based on the knowledge acquired during the fall semester course (Understanding modern Switzerland I), students are asked to work by group of 3-4 students and prepare a paper on a topic previously discussed with the teachers. ...

Description

This lecture delves into the Swiss political landscape, focusing on major political parties, decision-making processes, and the central role of interest groups. It covers the historical evolution of political integration, the composition of the Federal Council, and the distribution of seats in the National Council and Council of States. The concept of 'Concordance Democracy' is explored, highlighting the paradox of direct democracy leading to elite negotiations. The lecture also discusses the evolution of Swiss politics from the Freisinn/Radical 'hegemony' to the modern era of new polarizations, including the rise of right-wing populism. Overall, it provides a comprehensive overview of Switzerland's unique political system.

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Theistic evolution

Theistic evolution (also known as theistic evolutionism or God-guided evolution) is a view that God acts and creates through laws of nature. It posits that the concept of God is compatible with the findings of modern science, including evolution. Theistic evolution is not in itself a scientific theory, but includes a range of views about how science relates to religious beliefs and the extent to which God intervenes. It rejects the strict creationist doctrines of special creation, but can include beliefs such as creation of the human soul.

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