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Cracks in the Mosaic: A Comparative Case Study of the State of Consociationalism in Belgium and Switzerland

Holm, Adrian LU (2024) STVK04 20241
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Fifty-five years have passed since Lijphart’s introduction of the consociational model of democracy, which uses elite cooperation to manage conflict in divided societies. Through a comparative case study of the application of consociationalism in the classic cases of Belgium and Switzerland with a focus on the key characteristics of grand coalition, segmental autonomy, and public passivity, the model’s continued relevance is examined. The analysis indicates that the two cases still exhibit consociational features, but identifies challenges to the application of the model with regard to government composition, secessionist parties, and the use of direct-democratic referendums. The findings raise questions about Lijphart’s universal... (More)
Fifty-five years have passed since Lijphart’s introduction of the consociational model of democracy, which uses elite cooperation to manage conflict in divided societies. Through a comparative case study of the application of consociationalism in the classic cases of Belgium and Switzerland with a focus on the key characteristics of grand coalition, segmental autonomy, and public passivity, the model’s continued relevance is examined. The analysis indicates that the two cases still exhibit consociational features, but identifies challenges to the application of the model with regard to government composition, secessionist parties, and the use of direct-democratic referendums. The findings raise questions about Lijphart’s universal recommendations of the model and the future of consociationalism in relation to the upsurge in populism and democratic backsliding. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Holm, Adrian LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK04 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
consociationalism, Belgium, Switzerland, comparative case study
language
English
id
9153017
date added to LUP
2024-07-18 11:09:52
date last changed
2024-07-18 11:09:52
@misc{9153017,
  abstract     = {{Fifty-five years have passed since Lijphart’s introduction of the consociational model of democracy, which uses elite cooperation to manage conflict in divided societies. Through a comparative case study of the application of consociationalism in the classic cases of Belgium and Switzerland with a focus on the key characteristics of grand coalition, segmental autonomy, and public passivity, the model’s continued relevance is examined. The analysis indicates that the two cases still exhibit consociational features, but identifies challenges to the application of the model with regard to government composition, secessionist parties, and the use of direct-democratic referendums. The findings raise questions about Lijphart’s universal recommendations of the model and the future of consociationalism in relation to the upsurge in populism and democratic backsliding.}},
  author       = {{Holm, Adrian}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Cracks in the Mosaic: A Comparative Case Study of the State of Consociationalism in Belgium and Switzerland}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}