“Where Power Belongs: How Swiss Citizens Govern Themselves and Thrive”

Switzerland is often cited as a global model of success. Whether one looks at healthcare, safety, political stability, trust in institutions, low crime rates, employment, or prosperity, the country consistently lands at the top of international rankings. Yet the real question is not what Switzerland achieves, but why. What lies behind this enduring success story?

The answer, once you look beyond the obvious, is deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful: Switzerland is the only true direct democracy in the world. Other nations may flirt with participatory mechanisms or local referendums, but none has institutionalized the will of the people into the very bones of governance the way Switzerland has. It is a country where decisions genuinely rest in the hands of its citizens.

To understand this, we need to look at the architecture of the Swiss state. The Swiss Confederation is composed of 26 cantons, each of which enjoys a remarkable degree of autonomy. These cantons are not just administrative zones; they are near-sovereign entities. Each has its own constitution, parliament, tax system, healthcare structure, and even, in many cases, its own state bank. Some bear the title “Republic,” such as the Republic and Canton of Geneva. While there is a federal constitution binding the whole, these cantons are legally and functionally distinct from one another in a way that the counties of the United Kingdom or departments of France are not.

In fact, Switzerland does not even have an official capital. Bern is widely perceived as one, but it merely serves as the seat of the federal administration—it is a logistical centre, not a symbolic heart of statehood. This is no accident. The Swiss state is built on the idea of decentralization. The canton of Uri does not interfere with the canton of Geneva; each governs itself, choosing to cooperate in a confederation rather than submit to a centralised authority.

Zoom in closer still, and you find the communes—more than 2,100 of them. These are the most intimate units of governance, sometimes comprising just a few thousand people. Here, citizens make decisions that directly shape their daily lives: whether to build a school, pave a road, or finance a local project. Democracy in Switzerland is not a spectator sport; it is a participatory, living practice at every level.

This principle of dispersed power is even visible in the federal government. The national executive body comprises just seven ministers, each from a different political party, none of whom are party leaders. These ministers serve together in a coalition model that embodies collegiality over confrontation. The role of president is rotated annually among them—not as a symbol of hierarchy but as a safeguard against personal power. The Swiss president is not a head of state in the way other nations understand it; they chair meetings but wield no special executive authority. The very structure of Swiss governance is designed to prevent power from accumulating in any one person or institution.

And then there is the beating heart of Swiss direct democracy: the referendum system. Unlike in many countries where referendums are rare, crisis-driven, or merely consultative, in Switzerland they are a regular and legally binding part of national life. Four times a year, the population is called to vote on a range of issues—already scheduled in the national calendar through to the 2030s. These are not fringe topics or symbolic gestures. They are central policy decisions, often involving constitutional amendments or international treaties. In the case of a mandatory referendum, such as constitutional changes, the law requires a double majority: a majority of the popular vote and a majority of the cantons. In other words, a decision must resonate with both the people and the territorial structure of the Confederation to pass.

Then there’s the optional referendum, a mechanism of challenge and review. If citizens disagree with a law passed by parliament, they have 100 days to gather 50,000 signatures to bring that law to a public vote. Alternatively, eight cantons can jointly request a referendum. If the threshold is met, the law is put to a popular vote, and a simple majority decides its fate. This isn’t just a safety valve—it’s a weapon of accountability in the hands of the people.

Most radically of all, there is the popular initiative. This is not about vetoing a law; it is about proposing one. If 100,000 citizens support a new idea, they can force a national vote on it. Parliament may negotiate with the authors of the initiative, try to convince them to withdraw it, or draft a counterproposal to be voted on alongside it. Either way, the initiative forces the political establishment to respond to new thinking from the grassroots. It redefines the direction of national conversation—not from above, but from below.

These mechanisms are not confined to the national level. They are present and active at the cantonal and communal levels as well. This layering of democratic tools across every tier of governance creates a political culture unlike any other. It means that real, consequential decisions are made close to the people they affect. Governance is not a distant performance but a shared responsibility.

Consider this: Switzerland’s population is around nine million. Divided across 26 cantons, that’s roughly 344,000 people per canton. With 2,121 communes, each one serves an average of about 4,220 residents. In these tight-knit communities, citizens are not just voters—they are decision-makers. And this proximity means transparency. It means accountability. It means trust.

And that trust is measurable. Switzerland routinely scores among the highest in the world for confidence in government. But the word "government" here doesn’t carry the same meaning as it does in Paris, Berlin or London. It doesn’t refer to a monolithic executive body ruling from afar. It means the people themselves—deliberating, voting, and co-creating the laws and policies that shape their lives.

So why, if this system works so well, don’t other countries adopt it?

The uncomfortable answer is that the current trajectory in much of the world is heading in the opposite direction. Centralization is on the rise. Governments grow larger, more remote, more opaque. Power is hoarded rather than shared. The idea of devolving it—of trusting the people—runs counter to prevailing political instincts.

Yet Switzerland offers a quiet, consistent rebuttal. It shows that trusting people works. That part-time politicians, collaborative leadership, rotating presidents, and citizen-led referendums can produce not only stability, but prosperity. It proves that governance by the people is not only possible, but effective.

And so, the next time you glance at one of those global rankings, ask not just how Switzerland does so well—but who makes it work. The answer is simple: the people.

If you're curious to explore this remarkable system further, I invite you to discover it through my books: Subsidiarity – Gateway to Democracy, Alliance – Oath of Allegiance, Enlightened – A Voyage of Discovery, and Grassroots – Dawn of Transformation.

Each title brings Swiss-style #DirectDemocracy to life in an accessible, engaging way, following the fictional adventures of Thomas Mercer, a British start-up advisor, and his circle of friends as they navigate encounters that illuminate this unique political model.

The books can be enjoyed in any order, with the most recent, Subsidiarity – Gateway to Democracy, offering a vivid journey through 30 days of hiking across Switzerland—a pilgrimage into the heart of people-powered governance.