Switzerland

[Invincible Summer]

So I've been thinking - Switzerland seems pretty cool. They practice a form of direct democracy and are a federation of cantons.

I don't know very much more than this (except maybe that they have a nationalist/fascist movement) but I guess my questions are:

- Is the Swiss model (sans capitalism, of course) one that anarchists (I suppose communists as well) should aspire to mimic, to an extent?
- What are the downfalls of the Swiss system compared to a "wholly Anarchistic" model of federalism and direct democracy?

[LOLseph Stalin]

Slightly off-topic, but I have been to Switzerland. I like it there. Plus, they're neutral.

[Raúl Duke]

- Is the Swiss model (sans capitalism, of course) one that anarchists (I suppose communists as well) should aspire to mimic, to an extent?The swiss model does not go far enough, it still is a statist republic in some/many aspects.

[which doctor]

- Is the Swiss model (sans capitalism, of course) one that anarchists (I suppose communists as well) should aspire to mimic, to an extent?
There is no such thing as a swiss model sans capitalism. Capitalism is more than a simple economic system, it's an all encompassing social order and it's an integral part of modern Switzerland. You can't ask us to analyze the "swiss model sans capitalism" because it is a self-negating description.

[Invincible Summer]

The swiss model does not go far enough, it still is a statist republic in some/many aspects.

Indeed, and that's why I included "to some extent."

Perhaps I do not understand how their voting system works, which may explain why I overlooked their parliament and such.

[Black Dagger]

For me 'direct democracy' in anarchist context will always be distinct from the 'direct democracy' of any contemporary context, regardless of structural semblance the social conditions are nevertheless quite distinct.
For example, i've read about the difficulty of migrants gaining citizenship rights in Switzerland - where prospective residents are paraded for townspeople with profiles and photos - making it easy to adopt racist or xenophobic policies - the people with brown faces get 'no' votes etc. This is not a problem inherent in direct-democracy (in an anarchist society, direct-democracy does not entail others deciding where you may live) but a result of the context in which it is being practised. This is why anarchists are strong advocates of social revolution, you can't have anarchism without it.

[Invincible Summer]

For me 'direct democracy' in anarchist context will always be distinct from the 'direct democracy' of any contemporary context, regardless of structural semblance the social conditions are nevertheless quite distinct.
For example, i've read about the difficulty of migrants gaining citizenship rights in Switzerland - where prospective residents are paraded for townspeople with profiles and photos - making it easy to adopt racist or xenophobic policies - the people with brown faces get 'no' votes etc. This is not a problem inherent in direct-democracy (in an anarchist society, direct-democracy does not entail others deciding where you may live) but a result of the context in which it is being practised. This is why anarchists are strong advocates of social revolution, you can't have anarchism without it.

That's terrible! But you're right, anarchist direct-democracy will be (and has to be) distinct from modern examples of direct-democracy.

I'm glad that I'm getting all these responses - I tried to do some basic Wiki reading up on the direct-democratic system in Switzerland, but it wasn't very helpful - because I was mainly interested in how the Swiss system is actually run and what Anarchists can learn to avoid in our version of it.

[apathy maybe]

Switzerland isn't a perfect example that we should try to emulate in all respects.

In the here and now, it has some good features compared to other places (e.g. most treaties are voted on by the public before being agreed to by the country).

However, there are flaws (e.g. as pointed out by Black Dagger, which according to Wikipedia is no longer the case, as the supreme court in 2003 did something or other), and in many ways, certain Swiss are quite xenophobic and racist. I don't know what percentage, or what the difference is compared to other countries, but because of the whole voting on lots of things, the racist/nationalist fucks do get a bit more publicity compared to what they get in other countries.

---

Compared to federations like Australia, Germany and Canada, in many respects Switzerland is more a confederation (and indeed, is official, the Swiss Confederation according to Wikipedia).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Switzerland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_in_Switzerland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_right_in_Switzerland

Fuck Switzerland, there are too many Swiss.

[Demogorgon]

It has all the various flaws pointed out here, however the development of the system is a very interesting example of progressivism in the nineteenth century.

[Black Dagger]

Speaking about the social situation in Switzerland, Skinhead attack on pregnant woman (http://www.smh.com.au/world/skinhead-attack-on-pregnant-woman-20090213-86bb.html).

"Zurich police are investigating an alleged skinhead assault on a pregnant Brazilian woman that caused her to miscarry twins and left her scarred with the initials of Switzerland's main right-wing party ["Schweizerische Volkspartei" (Swiss People's Party)]"

...

"The Swiss People's Party has taken a hardline against immigrants. It has spearheaded campaigns against Swiss integration in Europe and pressed to toughen asylum laws and make it easier to expel foreign nationals."

[The Thing On The Wall]

I've also read somewhere that Swiss citizenship is difficult to get, mostly for non-European immigrants? Like, people can live there for 10-20 years and still not be citizens?