Dominance, Competition, Compromise or Consensus? Explaining Decision-Making Structures

The previous chapter uncovered important differences between decision-making structures across the 11 processes investigated by this study. As we have noted, both historically and in much contemporary literature, the Swiss political system has been described as highly consensual. And yet, when we focus on differences between decision-making structures across different policy domains, important elements appear that point toward a more conflictual style of decision-making. Both when there is a power balance between coalitions and in the presence of a dominant coalition, coalition interactions are conflictual in the majority of cases. Based on the descriptive account of these differences in Chapter 4, the present chapter studies the conditions under which given decision-making structures emerge. Under which circumstances are actors able to form a dominant coalition, and which conditions lead to a situation where power is more evenly balanced between coalitions? Which conditions lead actors to develop a conflictual rather than a consensual type of interaction? Answering these questions can give us some indication of the factors responsible for different types of decision-making structures.

Political Decision-Making in Switzerland. The Consensus Model under Pressure

This in-depth study of the decision-making processes of the early 2000s shows that the Swiss consensus democracy has changed considerably. Power relations have transformed, conflict has increased, coalitions have become more unstable and outputs less predictable. Yet these challenges to consensus politics provide opportunities for innovation.

Reading framework for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 1992-1998 : NAEP reading consensus project /

Shipping list no.: 97-0079-P.

Consensus development meeting on breast cancer screening, September 14-16, 1977.

Mode of access: Internet.

NIH Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease : June 28-30, 2004, William H. Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland /

Shipping list no.: 2004-0216-P.

Divi Augustini, et Scoti subtilium principis de Gratia Christi consensus /

Mode of access: Internet.

Lumina reflexa seu Omnium veterum classicorum ac ethnicorum authorum exactissimus consensus ... : deserviens instar commentarii ad totam S. Scripturam /

Mode of access: Internet.

NIH consensus statement.

Each issue has also a distinctive title.

R. P. Martini Becani Cl. theologi Analogia veteris ac Novi Testamenti : in qua primum status Veteris, deinde consensus, proportio et conspiratio illius cum Novo explicatur : cum duplici indice ...

Mode of access: Internet.

Analogia veteris ac Novi Testamenti : in qua primùm status Veteris, deinde consensus, proportio, & conspiratio illius cum Novo explicatur /

Mode of access: Internet.

R. P. Martini Becani Societatis Iesu theologi analogia veteris ac Novi Testamenti : in qua primùm status Veteris, deinde consensus, proportio & conspiratio illius cum Novo explicatur : cum triplici indice.

Mode of access: Internet.

Analogia Veteris ac Novi Testamenti : in qua primum status veteris deinde consensus proportio [et] conspiratio illius cum nouo explicatur /

Mode of access: Internet.

Technical, scientific and procedural issues of employee drug testing : consensus report /

Mode of access: Internet.

Consensus statement /

Each number has also a distinctive title.

Quaestio medica quodlibetariis disputationibus manè discutienda, in Scholis Medicorum ... Anno Domini MDCCLXIV ... Utrùm à gangliis nervi intercostalis partium omnium consensus? /

Mode of access: Internet.