Direct Democratic Choice

The book delves into how citizens make decisions in direct-democratic votes, drawing on two decades of Swiss post-election surveys. Author Hanspeter Kriesi argues that participants are capable decision-makers, offering an optimistic perspective on direct democracy. However, he also emphasizes the potential for enhancing this decision-making process through thoughtful institutional design and strategic actions by political elites. The analysis contextualizes the findings within various political issues and elite arguments, providing a comprehensive understanding of citizen engagement in democracy.