Scientific article
English

The Rise of Citizen Groups within the Administration and Parliament in Switzerland

Published inSchweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, vol. 26, no. 2, p. 206-227
Publication date2020-02-20
First online date2020-02-20
Abstract

This research note presents three newly interconnected and expanded datasets on interest groups’ (IGs) access to the Swiss political decision‐making process: (1) extra‐parliamentary committee seats occupied by IGs (1980, 2000, 2010), (2) parliamentary (committee) seats occupied by IG representatives (1992‐2015), and (3) consultation replies submitted by IGs (2008‐11). We show that the Swiss system of interest intermediation adapted to the multiplication and organizational consolidation of citizen groups, which defend non‐producer interests and do not provide selective benefits to their members (e.g. environmental groups). The share of access granted to citizen groups has increased in both the administration and parliament, across all federal departments and most legislative committees. Moreover, citizen groups benefit from a larger share of access in the recently revitalized parliament, compared to the administration. This suggests that economic groups’ decline in power is also related to the rise of citizen groups.

Citation (ISO format)
EICHENBERGER, Steven. The Rise of Citizen Groups within the Administration and Parliament in Switzerland. In: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft, 2020, vol. 26, n° 2, p. 206–227. doi: 10.1111/spsr.12394
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Journal ISSN1424-7755
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