Detailed Programmes
Read the full detailed programme for each of the excursions here. Please note that extra registration is mandatory to take part in one of the excursions.
Where it all started! Visit to the first Swiss capital and its current practices including research.
9:00 Departure of the delegation in Lucerne
Train IR 15 with a change in Zofingen 9:31-9:40 (S298937)
9:57 Arrival in Aarau
Walk to the Grand Council building
10:15-11:45 Briefing
Direct democracy in the canton of Aargau and the city of Aarau (EN)
11:45-12:45 Democracy city walk
With historical and contemporary references (German/English)
12:45-13:45 Lunch snack
Followed by a walk to the ZDA
13:45-15:15 Visit to the ZdA Centre for Democracy
In-depth discussions on local/cantonal as well as other topics of the Global Forum
Return journey to Lucerne from 16:00 (individual)
The federal centre of modern direct democracy in Switzerland and its new information centre.
09:00-10:00 Departure from Lucerne
10:15-12:00 Federal Palace
Guided tour with MP Matthias Aebischer
12:00-13:00 Lunch
Location: House of the Cantons
13:00–15:30 Federalism and direct democracy in Switzerland: two faces of the same coin
Location: House of the Cantons / Language: English (optionally German and French as well) / coffee break included with the Fondation ch and the Institute of Federalism
15:30-16:30 Guided tour Democracy Mile
With the Polit-Forum Bern - in two groups.
16:30-19:00 Democracy Tower Polit-Forum Bern
Visit of the exhibition followed by an apero in the podium hall.
18:00 -18:45 Concert
By the parliamentary band Fraktionzwang
18:45 Return journey
Assessing 175 years of direct democracy practice and ways to strengthen democracy in the future.
10.15 Welcome to the Lucerne City Tour
Introduction by Adrian Schmid, President Swiss Democracy Foundation
Meeting point is the historic gate just in front of the Lucerne main station (Language: English)
10.30 - 11.30 Direct democracy and basic income in the ecological future
Location: OMNIBUS for direct democracy: / Bahnhofstrasse 5 Lucerne / Language English
Which role can direct democracy play in building an ecological society? In particular, how can we guide the flow of money through voting in such a way that it is ecologically consistent? The direct-democratic introduction of an unconditional basic income could be an example. It would result in nobody having to do work that is superfluous or even harmful. Everyone could develop their skills in a meaningful way and use them to shape society. How can the basic income be financed?
11.45 – 12.15 Sandwich break at the Infopoint Europe Dome / Omnibus
Bahnhofstrasse 5 Lucerne
12.30 - 15.45 Direct Democracy in Switzerland: New Findings from Voting Research
Location: University Lucerne Room 4.B55 / Language English / including Coffeebreak 14-14.30
In this panel, political scientists present their recent findings on the functioning of direct democracy in Switzerland and discuss them with the public.
The six presentations are based on scientific analyses, but are presented in a way that is comprehensible to a general, international audience.
Lead: Prof. Dr. Marc Bühlmann has been Director of Année Politique Suisse since 2011 and Dr. Hans-Peter Schaub is project manager of the Swissvotes data platform.
18.00 - 19.30 Workshop on the cantonal initiative „Stimmrechtsalter 16 - Voting Age 16“
Location: Laboratorium/Language (German)
Where does Switzerland, and in particular the canton of Lucerne, stand with regard to the voting age of 16? Does the recently launched popular initiative for voting age 16 in the canton of Lucerne have any chance at all after the vote in the canton of Zurich? And is a similar process emerging as with the introduction of women's voting rights? In an exchange with experts and politicians, the Swiss Democracy Foundation, the umbrella organization of youth parliaments DSJ and the Youth Parliament of Lucerne get to the bottom of the arguments for or against voting age 16.
Closing with an Apéro at the Laboratorium
A continuation of the sessions in "Track 4: Beyond Borders - Building a Transnational Democracy". Participants on this excursion will receive a look beyond national democracy from a innovative city in Eastern Switzerland.
9:09 Train from Lucerne to Uster
10:20 Arrival in Uster
10:30 -11:30 : Welcome to Uster
Coffee and welcome address, hosted by the mayor of the city, Barbara Thalmann.
Introduction to the democratic challenges and tools of Uster.
11:30-13:30: Workshop on (digital) Identity for Global Voters.
The requirements for a digital “Global Voter Identity” will be discussed and agreed upon
13:30-15:30: Guided Tour of democracy landmarks in the city
Including a visit of the castle of Uster and a Lebanese lunch, offered by the city of Uster
15:30-17:30: Interactive workshop: “Today’s deliberation and voting platforms”
18:00 Individual return to Lucerne
Zurich is on the way back, only 12 minutes from Uster by train
or optional short hike with possibility for a nice barbecue in the region of Lake Greifensee
Please register for the evening separately at info@gloco.ch
Travel expenses from Lucerne to Uster have to be paid by the participants.
- The Global Forum consortium will cover travel expenses for 20 foreign participants, please apply with the organisers
- There is plenty of parking possibilities in Uster for people coming by car
