This book seeks to explain centralisation and decentralisation, which are conceptualised as having three dimensions: an institutional (polity), a functional (policy), and an actor- and process-oriented dimension (politics).  In terms of theory, three separate approaches are combined: socio-cultural, political-ideological, and macro-structural. Empirically, the book compares decentralisation within the Swiss cantons as 26 independent units of observation.  Cantonal decentralisation is first predicted cross-sectionally using linear regression models. Three significant independent variables emerge: political culture, area, and the strength of left-wing parties. Then, using process tracing, four cantons are studied over time to move from identifying correlation to establishing causation. Finally, causal inferences for (de)centralisation as such are drawn, urging future federal and territorial politics studies to a) reconceptualise decentralisation into three distinct but related dimensions and to b) bridge the theoretical gap between socio-cultural, structural and party-political approaches to achieve more valid and reliable explanations of territorial governance.  'The subtitle of Why Centralisation? is an apt choice: indeed, concept, theory, and evidence do come together in this remarkable piece of scholarship. The foundations of the book rest on a within-case comparison, but Why Centralisation? is driven by something more than concerns of social science methodology; there are important substantive and theoretical lessons here. National indicators often miss out on regional variation, but there is a lot to be learned from seeking to explain why sub-units behave differently... The book brings together ideas from different schools of analysis, and puts this through the filter of various research methodologies. Quantitative indicators and archival evidence together provide the empirical grounding to Mueller's quest to explain the variation. The result is scholarship in the grand book tradition where big questions are coupled with in-depth case-studies. Not only does one get a theoretically-driven, novel way of conceptualising what (de)centralisation means, one also gets a very interesting glimpse into the politics and history of the Swiss cantons.' Jan Erk, Reader in Comparative Politics, University of Leiden   'A groundbreaking demonstration of how readily available, reliable data can be used to enrich understandings of the subnational dynamics of governance. Mueller shows that to fully understand the differing degrees, options and supports for decentralisation within federal and decentralised countries - or the different triggers and responses to centralisation imperatives - a stronger focus needs to be given to the combined influences of local and regional culture, policy needs and politics. However, in his new tracking of the relationship between these influences and (de)centralisation outcomes, he not only draws on rich qualitative evidence from Switzerland but lays the ground for more effective and efficient comparative research into these drivers and outcomes across many countries.' A J Brown, Professor of Public Policy and Law, Griffith University

Theorising Decentralisation: Comparative Evidence from Sub-National Switzerland

Mueller, Sean

Legal Theory & Systems

ECPR Press

Swiss Democracy: Possible Solutions to Conflict in Multicultural Societies

<p>Review      ‘Much can be learned from this study. But the lesson of this book is not: do it like the Swiss, and everything will be fine. Rather: study the history and the institutions of Switzerland, adopt what seems to work and avoid the many pitfalls’.―Jürg Steiner, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA and University of Bern, Switzerland, on the first edition (1994)  ‘This new edition of Swiss Democracy lives up to both the far-reaching changes that the Swiss political system has experienced over the past decades under the influence of Europeanization and party system polarization, as well as to the dynamic development of political science research on Swiss politics. It is essential reading for scholars and practitioners alike who are interested in a critical appraisal of the development and dynamic development of Swiss consensus democracy’.―Silja Häusermann, University of Zurich, Switzerland  ‘Swiss Democracy provides a comprehensive and original analysis of the emergence, development, and various definitive features of this unique and complex political system – one characterized by extraordinary diffusion and sharing of powers among branches and levels of government as well as numerous constituencies. The authors explain the particularities of Swiss consensus democracy, federalism, direct democracy, and position in European and international politics, while also providing insightful comparative perspectives and potential lessons. This fourth fully revised edition sheds light on continuity as much as numerous changes and challenges to Swiss policies, politics and polity. It is a must-read for scholars of Swiss politics as well as comparative federalism and government that is also remarkably accessible for students, practitioners and a wider audience’.―Jared Sonnicksen, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany      Product Description      This open access book provides an updated and fully revised 4th edition of this authoritative analysis of Swiss democracy. It particularly explains the institutions of federalism and consensus government through political power sharing. In this new edition, the authors also address several important changes and challenges that have affected Swiss democracy, including the country's relationship with the EU, fiscal equalisation, direct democracy and the legitimacy of national referendums, territorial conflict, as well as the polarisation of party politics.       Review            From the Back Cover      This open access book provides an updated and fully revised 4th edition of this authoritative analysis of Swiss democracy. It particularly explains the institutions of federalism and consensus government through political power sharing. In this new edition, the authors also address several important changes and challenges that have affected Swiss democracy, including the country's relationship with the EU, fiscal equalisation, direct democracy and the legitimacy of national referendums, territorial conflict, as well as the polarisation of party politics. Wolf Linder is Professor emeritus of the Institute of Political Science, University of Berne, Switzerland. His main areas of research are Swiss politics, direct democracy and Europeanisation.Sean Mueller is Senior Researcher at the Institute of Political Science, University of Berne, Switzerland. His main areas of research are Swiss and comparative federalism, power-sharing and direct democracy.       About the Author      Wolf Linder is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former Director of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He has held professorships in Lausanne and Bern and guest professorships in Geneva and Lucerne. His research has focused on Swiss institutions and politics. His publications include about 150 articles and 15 books. Texts of previous editions of Swiss Democracy have been translated into Polish, Arab, Nepali, Rumanian. On this basis, Linder still works as a lec</p>

Politics & Social Sciences

Linder, Wolf

Politics & Government

PALGRAVE~MACMILLAN

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