Politics and institutions

Long characterised as an inherently stable part of the country’s make-up, Switzerland’s politico-administrative system has started to meet upcoming challenges with a series of reforms. This course follows the ins and outs of these changes through the lens of institutional policies—that is, the policies which define the rules of the politico-administrative game. The course concentrates its analysis on the federal level and uses administrative science and political science as its main analytical tools.

• Decode Switzerland’s institutional architecture and its effects on the country’s politico-administrative system;
• Analyse the structure and functioning of Switzerland’s public administration, as well as reforms currently underway in this domain;
• Discuss the federal administration’s role within Switzerland’s political system, notably within the legislative process.

• Students studying for the MAS in public administration (MPA);
• Students studying for the DAS in public administration;
• Employees in federal and cantonal administrations;
• Political representatives;
• Journalists and other interested observers of Switzerland’s political landscape.

Course led by Prof. Andreas Ladner.