René Roca

René Roca

René Roca has a PhD in history and is a secondary school teacher and Director of the Research Institute for Direct Democracy fidd.ch.

Direct democracy in the Free State of the Three Leagues

René Roca 19.09.2024 Direct democracy was already practised in the area that is now Graubünden over 500 years ago.
Three Leagues, one Free State. Graubünden’s past is more democratic than you might think. Illustration by Marco Heer

The Confederation's policy of concordance

René Roca 02.06.2023 The Swiss Confederation has had a constitution since 1848. Yet the history of this legal document, which is still in force today, dates back much further. It would be almost impossible to imagine the federal state in its current form without this historical prelude.
Helvetia, enthroned in the centre, is crowned with a laurel wreath as she brandishes the new Federal Constitution. Instead of the usual allegories, she is flanked on both sides by citizens depicted in military uniform and in civilian dress, embodying the people as the supreme political authority.

Direct democracy in Switzerland

René Roca 13.05.2022 Of all the world’s democracies, Switzerland has the most extensive elements of direct democracy. The historical roots of this political structure lie in the country’s relatively well-developed educational system, and the rural uprisings of the 19th century.
On voting weekends, posters like this one summon voters to the ballot box.

Using the ‘magic formula’ to achieve concordance

René Roca 15.09.2021 Concordance is a model of democracy that promotes consensus and ensures internal peace, and it is a hallmark of Switzerland’s political system. The system came into being at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Federal Council on the occasion of its “extra muros” meeting on April 24, 2013 together with the Vaudois government and the Nyon municipal council in the Château de Prangins.

Switzerland and the USA: sister republics

René Roca 20.01.2021 At first glance, the USA and Switzerland seem like two very different countries. But a look back at their shared history springs a few surprises. It shows how closely the political systems of the two nations are related to one another.
The Constitution of the United States with its famous preamble ‘We the People’ (left), and an excerpt from the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848.

Switzerland’s ‘militia’ system

René Roca 18.10.2019 Even today, Switzerland’s ‘militia’ system of citizen legislature (Milizsystem) is central to the country’s system of government. But what does the term ‘militia’ actually mean? And how did this system come about?