Suchergebnisse

Also printed in Port. in: Assuntos Eur, 1:201-23 no 2 '82. Summary in Italian.

The results of the first European elections reflect the general distribution of the European electorate slightly center-right oriented, even if the abstentionism of almost 40 % caused some distorsions as in the case of United Kingdom. After the comparison of the results, state by state, it appears globally that the socialists ( 113) and liberals (40) regressed, the gaullists and their allies (22) suffered a serious defeat, white the christian democrats ( 107) and the communists (44) progressed and some minor parties (leftists and regionalists) entered the European Parliament.The second part contains a portrait of the new European Parliament which is younger than its predecessor, has more women including its president and has many high personnalities. As in the past, the political groupsplay a central and dynamic role. The question is to know if they will be capable of maintaining their cohesion. The examined cases give no evidence of the existence of the center-right majority in front of the left opposition. In fact, there were changing coalitions and voting constellations according to different problems, ideological options or concrete choices. The recent vote rejecting the proposed budget expresses a will of the European Parliament to impose its style and its democratic control on the European Community.

THE SWISS AND THEIR POLITICS: THIS TOPIC HAS ALREADY BEEN AND still is of concern to many citizens as well as to social scientists. Although it has been the subject of several studies, it has however never generated any empirical research using opinion polls. This has now been done. This study is part of a series based on the results of an opinion poll – the first in Switzerland – carried out in the spring of 1972. The survey was designed to elicit the Swiss citizens' image of the country's democratic system as well as their attitudes toward important issues. It consisted of a questionnaire lasting about one hour and it was given to 1,917 male and female voters selected by scientific methods which guarantee their representativeness.

This article is a general presentation of Swiss socioeconomic groups and associations and of the role they play in Swiss political life. While the main organizations were created before 1900, the evolution of the associations corre sponds to the general trends of industrialization and division of labor. Swiss groups are characterized by a high concentra tion of their central bodies in Zurich and Berne and by federal structures reproducing the cantonal divisions of Switzerland. Consultation, based on constitutional provisions, is highly developed not only in internal politics, but also in foreign policy matters. One specific feature of this process is the existence of both the referendum and the initiative which constitute an element of the bargaining power of different associations. To illustrate this process, I draw on two ex amples : one related to the law on cartels and the other to the inflation policy. The last, but not the least interesting, aspect is the perception of this process by the public. In fact, our Swiss survey of 1972 gives a good idea of how the public perceives the influence of different groups and their capacity to defend its interests. It is clear that if the legitimacy of these associations and their activities is generally recognized, the Swiss voter condemns all violent forms of action and is reluc tant even to approve demonstrations. On the other hand, normal activities of socioeconomic groups are supported by a large consensus.

A general presentation is made of Swiss SE groups & associations & of the role they play in Swiss political life. While the main organizations were created before 1900, the evolution of the association corresponds to the general trends of industrialization & DofL. Swiss groups are characterized by a high concentration of their central bodies in Zurich & Berne & by federal structures reproducing the cantonal divisions of Switzerland. Consultation, based on constitutional provisions, is highly developed not only in internal politics, but also in foreign policy matters. One specific feature of this process is the existence of both the referendum & the initiative which constitute an element of the bargaining power of different associations. To illustrate this process, 2 examples are presented: one related to the law on cartels & the other to the inflation policy. The last, but not the least interesting, aspect is the perception of this process by the public. The Swiss survey of 1972 gives a good idea of how the public perceives the influence of different groups & their capacity to defend its interests. It is clear that if the legitimacy of these associations & their activities is generally recognized, the Swiss voter condemns all violent forms of action & is reluctant even to approve demonstrations. Normal activities of SE groups are supported by a large consensus. 10 Tables, 2 Figures. HA.

The development of the power of the European Economic Community has given rise to a reaction from those interests which are most directly affected. In order to make sure both that they are informed and that their interests are represented and defended, the various groups concerned have been led to create for themselves new structures at the level of EEC. A parallel relation has thus emerged between the official powers of EEC and the private powers affected by it. These groups, formed on the European level, naturally have neither the solidity nor the effectiveness of professional representation on the national level. Moreover, since such groups are themselves a part of the process of evolution of the political structure, they adapt themselves readily to new political circumstances. But if these European professional organs are not comparable to the national groupings, they cannot be seen as similar to the international associations. They are more numerous – three hundred and fifty to four hundred gravitate towards the European Community. Their action is both more intense and more concrete than that of the international associations, and corresponds to questions with which the community is concerned.