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Direct Democracy and Minority Rights: Direct and Indirect Effects on Religious Minorities in Switzerland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2012

Anna Christmann  and
Deniz Danaci
Anna Christmann*
Affiliation:
University of Zurich
Deniz Danaci*
Affiliation:
University of Zurich
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anna Christmann, Centre for Democracy Studies, University of Zurich. E-mail: anna.christmann@zda.uzh.ch; or Deniz Danaci, Institute of Political Science, University of Zurich. E-mail: deniz.danaci@ipz.uzh.ch
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Anna Christmann, Centre for Democracy Studies, University of Zurich. E-mail: anna.christmann@zda.uzh.ch; or Deniz Danaci, Institute of Political Science, University of Zurich. E-mail: deniz.danaci@ipz.uzh.ch
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Abstract

Most of the research on the effects of direct democracy on minority rights is empirically limited to the direct effects of direct democracy. This article takes the issue a step further and examines both direct and indirect effects by investigating the rights of religious minorities in Switzerland. The analysis provides two main insights: all direct effects are negative and can be observed when the rights of out-groups like Islamic minorities are at stake. Second, indirect effects on the parliamentary process can be observed, too: parliaments make laws more restrictive toward Islamic minorities if they fear a popular vote. However, they develop strategies to enforce their liberal interests, as shown by the fact that extensions of the rights of religious minorities are passed in total revisions.

Type
Articles
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , April 2012 , pp. 133 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2012

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