The New Cultural Conflict, Polarization, and Representation in the Swiss Party System, 1975–2011

Abstract

Party relationships in the Swiss party system have become substantially more antagonistic over the past decades. This article analyzes the actors and ideologies that have triggered the emergence of a polarizing cultural antagonism, and shows that this conflict is not primarily about Switzerland's relationship with Europe. The implications of the emergence of the new cultural conflict for democracy are far from clear. Using an innovative approach to measure the congruence between voter preferences and party positions, I show that the representation of citizens' interests along the cultural dimension has improved significantly since the 1970s. The concomitant polarization of the economic dimension has not altered the quality of representation, on the other hand. I conclude by discussing the trade-offs between the political articulation of a traditionalist-communitarian conception of community that clearly resonates with an important part of the Swiss populace, and other components of liberal democracy.

How the Populist Radical Right Transformed Swiss Welfare Politics: From Compromises to Polarization

“…On the one hand, as other articles in this special issue make clear, the Swiss party system has faced important challenges in its capacity to build political compromises in recent decades. Bornschier () shows that polarization has increased, including on the socio‐economic dimension related to welfare policies. Traber () also shows that conflict has increased in Parliament, and grand coalitions including all Swiss governmental parties have become less frequent.…”

The 2015 National Elections in Switzerland: Renewed Polarization and Shift to the Right

“…Since the late 1980s, the earlier centrist party of farmers and smallholders has gradually taken the leadership of a new nationalist-conservative pole, which is opposed to integration, migration, and globalisation, and defends traditionalist cultural values (Kriesi et al, 2006;Bornschier, 2015). Until the 1990s, the party was only present in protestant and agricultural cantons, while strongest in the German-speaking parts of the country.…”

“…These occurrences also highlight the ongoing professionalization and consolidation of national campaign headquarters and the request for unitary appearance (Bühlmann, Gerber, & Zumbach, forthcoming; see also Bailer & Bütikofer, 2015). (Kriesi et al, 2006;Bornschier, 2015), nine in ten national ads of the Swiss People's Party referred to the issue of immigration and/or asylum.…”

Competitive Consensus. What comes after Consociationalism in Switzerland?

“…It has made way for a period of fractionalisation and polarisation (Ladner , 138–9, 48–9; Lutz and Selb ). Locally scattered ecologist groups have merged into a nationally organised Green party (Baer and Seitz ), the Swiss People's Party (SVP) has transformed from a farmer and smallholder party into a new nationalist‐conservative pole (incorporating some marginal parties at the far right), and the centre‐right bloc has driven apart (Bornschier, ). While the left‐wing bloc is politically united – the Social Democrats and Greens share very similar positions (Bochsler and Sciarini ) – the new political conflict around issues of integration and globalisation (Kriesi et al.…”