Patricia Schafer, a Swiss political scientist, civic educator, and militia politician who’s built her career around understanding and participating in the country’s political system joins me to unpack the inner workings of Swiss democracy.
Expect to learn what makes Switzerland’s political system so unique, why it allows citizens to vote on nearly everything, and how that shapes the country’s culture and governance. We explore how the Federal Council operates without a central head of state, how political and cultural diversity is kept thanks to a gentleman’s agreement, and what it means to work in politics while maintaining another full-time job. Patricia also reflects on why it took so long for women to gain voting rights, and the current debates around expanding civic participation.
CONTACT PATRICIA
CONTACT MIKE
https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/
TRANSCRIPT
https://howitticks.ch/podcast/patricia-schafer-direct-democracy/
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Patricia Schafer and Swiss Politics
02:01 Understanding Direct Democracy
07:48 The Role of Public Votes and Elected Officials
18:38 Swiss Federal Council Explained
25:05 The Unique Militia System in Swiss Politics
30:09 Challenges and Future of Swiss Democracy
37:19 Civic Participation and Voting Rights
42:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts