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Pluralismens utmaningar - En teoriprövande studie med Belgien och Schweiz.

Nilsson, Sofie and Rostedt, Maria (2008)
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis is set out as a testing of the crosscutting cleavages theory on two

contemporary cases. The aim is to test the explanation process of the crosscutting theory applied to the political and social situations in Belgium and Switzerland and furthermore to examine potential conflicts in pluralistic states. Our main question

is: How can the crosscutting cleavages theory explain the different outcomes of

social coexistence, even with the states numerous similarities? We have examined the two federal states through their social divisions of language, region, religion and socio-economy. Our findings show that both Belgium and Switzerland possess divisions in the above mentioned variables, which in most cases are cumulative structured.... (More)
This thesis is set out as a testing of the crosscutting cleavages theory on two

contemporary cases. The aim is to test the explanation process of the crosscutting theory applied to the political and social situations in Belgium and Switzerland and furthermore to examine potential conflicts in pluralistic states. Our main question

is: How can the crosscutting cleavages theory explain the different outcomes of

social coexistence, even with the states numerous similarities? We have examined the two federal states through their social divisions of language, region, religion and socio-economy. Our findings show that both Belgium and Switzerland possess divisions in the above mentioned variables, which in most cases are cumulative structured. Our study also shows that the cleavages apply on the political systems, where the federal design is essential. We find that the crosscutting cleavages theory can not alone explain the different political situations in the states. Though, different political mechanisms and functions, aiming to handle the pluralistic structure, can be helpful to explain these outcomes, for example the impact of direct democracy in the case of Switzerland. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nilsson, Sofie and Rostedt, Maria
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
crosscutting cleavages theory, pluralistic states, Belgium, Switzerland, Social sciences, Samhällsvetenskaper, Political and administrative sciences, Statsvetenskap, förvaltningskunskap
language
Swedish
id
1320131
date added to LUP
2008-11-20 00:00:00
date last changed
2008-11-20 00:00:00
@misc{1320131,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is set out as a testing of the crosscutting cleavages theory on two

contemporary cases. The aim is to test the explanation process of the crosscutting theory applied to the political and social situations in Belgium and Switzerland and furthermore to examine potential conflicts in pluralistic states. Our main question

is: How can the crosscutting cleavages theory explain the different outcomes of

social coexistence, even with the states numerous similarities? We have examined the two federal states through their social divisions of language, region, religion and socio-economy. Our findings show that both Belgium and Switzerland possess divisions in the above mentioned variables, which in most cases are cumulative structured. Our study also shows that the cleavages apply on the political systems, where the federal design is essential. We find that the crosscutting cleavages theory can not alone explain the different political situations in the states. Though, different political mechanisms and functions, aiming to handle the pluralistic structure, can be helpful to explain these outcomes, for example the impact of direct democracy in the case of Switzerland.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Sofie and Rostedt, Maria}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Pluralismens utmaningar - En teoriprövande studie med Belgien och Schweiz.}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}