Jones, RK; (2007) A consideration of democratic participation in switzerland and britain :with reference to the management of an educational issue at local level in both countries,vol.1. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

A consideration of democratic participation in Switzerland and Britain with reference to the management of an educational issue at local level in both countries This thesis is concerned with participatory democracy and its effectiveness in action. The aim of the underlying research has been to examine this form of democracy as it is revealed in one country (Switzerland) and within that to focus on a specific canton (Geneva); secondly to compare it with the democratic structure of the United Kingdom and again focusing on a particular region - the County of Buckinghamshire. In each case, at the local level, I have chosen one sensitive issue - education- and considered how far people participated in their own destinies, written from a United Kingdom background. It happened that an issue concerning selection of pupils arose in both areas at roughly the same time and which generated much discussion. I analysed the situation within the context of the systems of government and educational strategy of each country, my purpose being to discover whether the British representative democratic system or the Swiss direct democracy served their citizens best. In the chosen provincial areas of both states it happened that both grammar and non-selective schools existed. The main findings showed that in Switzerland the launching of a Popular Initiative involved the citizen at all stages thereafter — collecting signatures, a commission, and a final constitutionally approved referendum to decide the outcome. In the British county, however, the voter was offered a non-binding public opinion poll and had then to await the verdict of the county council. Finally, I consider the prospect of introducing a participatory democratic structure, akin to the Swiss model, into the British scene, as it might well encourage the United Kingdom voter into feeling a greater sense of personal involvement in the outcome of political events.

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