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"An important book must either impart vital information or bring forth a compelling new idea, and an interesting book needs to tell a good story. In Direct Democracy in Switzerland, Gregory Fossedal has done a little bit of all three. The result is a highly readable narrative, a tale of William Tell defying arrogant lords and brave mountain men fighting off empires on four sides to establish the world's most distinctive democracy. At the same time, the book tells how a country blessed with few physical resources has come to be, arguably, the most successful economy in the world, and how a nation with sharp religious and linguistic divisions enjoys deep social tranquility. It is, as well, a compelling drama, a good story by a writer who combines high ideals with a human touch." " A great nation deserves a great work which defines, explores, and elaborates its truths and myths. In Direct Democracy in Switzerland, a great nation has received the telling in history and the placement in history it deserves. It should be widely read in America and Europe, and will, hopefully, have a significant influence on man's understanding and practice of democracy itself."
"Gregory Fossedal performs a major service for people increasingly irritated by the weaknesses of the half-grown sort of democracy used in most of Europe and America. His account of full democracy, the way the Swiss do it, combines a detailed description of Switzerland's top-to-bottom machinery of referendums and initiatives with a vivid picture of how it feels to live in a place where democracy, at last, really does mean government by the people. This is the way, one hopes, tomorrow's politics will look everywhere." Brian Beedham, Senior Editor "During the 1980s, in The Democratic Imperative and in the pages of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Gregory A. Fossedal demonstrated where, how, and why the twentieth century was aptly named the American Century, a time of emerging democracy for regimes around the world. In Direct Democracy in Switzerland, Fossedal makes a quantum leap, asking the question, how should and will democracy reform itself in the 21st century? -- to grow from what one author has called its half-finished thing into its full height as government of, by, and for the people." "Fossedal, with a world citizen outlook, shows how America and Europe can take a leadership role in transforming themselves into direct democracies, reforming themselves in partnership with (not replacement of) representative democracy. I believe the most promising avenue for this is via a First Principles enactment process that is a Philadelphia II step (www.p2dd.org) to statutory realization of democracy in its full height. But whatever the method and the mechanics, this factual and comprehensive report on how full democracy works is both informative and persuasive." "In the debate over perfecting democracy today, everyone from John McCain to Ralph Nader, George Bush, and Bill Bradley seems to agree that our representative democracy is in urgent need of reform. Yet there is no agreed-upon blueprint for how to achieve that transformation -- to bring our politics out of the hands of special interests and elitist power blocs of all kind, and under the real control of the people. In describing how direct democracy has worked and is working today in perhaps the most advanced political culture in the world, Direct Democracy in Switzerland helps provide that blueprint. It is a work worthy of the tradition of Alexis de Tocqueville in which Fossedal writes, and deserves the widest possible readership." Mike Gravel, U.S. Senator, 1969-1981
Roger Masters "Americans should be alert to the need to continuously upgrade and improve American democracy. In doing so, they can benefit from reading Fossedal's very perceptive and illumination analysis of how direct democracy works in Switzerland." Zbigniew Brzezinski "Switzerland is only a small country, but it is as difficult to understand as the whole world. It unites a number of
unique, diverse and inspiring communities which are small worlds in themselves. I know no other English written book which helps you to understand this little big world in the center of Europe as this superbly written piece of political art from Gregory Fossedal
." Andreas Gross "A captivating look at a country whose politics are unencumbered by pollsters, lobbyists and lavish campaign spending. Fossedal fins in Switzerland two things America sorely needs, better newspapers and better government." Former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder "Gregory Fossedal gives a thoughtful and sensible assessment of today's political system in Switzerland and hits historical roots dating back for more than 700 years. Direct Democracy in Switzerland should be read by all Americans who want to understand how Switzerland is conducted by the interests and aspirations of its citizens and its 26 cantons, and by all Swiss who want to know how our country is seen from abroad. This book will contribute to deepen the old and good relationship between people in the two sister republics — the USA, and Switzerland." Franz Muheim "At a time when the gloom of political disillusionment continues to spread in Europe and North America, Gregory Fossedal shines a brilliant spotlight on a form of governance — Switzerland's direct democracy — with lessons for the rest of us. His review of the referendum process there is required reading for lawmakers, political consultants and voters." Amity Shlaes "A thoughtful study of Switzerland's remarkable political system." Politicos.co.uk
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