Cooperation between Switzerland and IDEA On 24 January 2006, Switzerland joined International IDEA, see: press release and a statement by the Stockholm-based Swiss Ambassador Robert Reich. Switzerland, a federal parliamentary democracy, has cooperated closely with IDEA since 1995 and has provided funding to the core programme of the Institute since 1996. In addition, Switzerland contributes financially to: - IDEA’s project on ‘direct democracy’, looking at the design and use of referendums, citizens’ initiatives and recall votes across the world.
- IDEA’s activities in the South Caucasus. Since 2002 Switzerland has sponsored IDEA’s South Caucasus programme. This programme seeks to develop a democratic, political agenda and to strengthen the capacity of the states, and civic and political institutions in the region, mainly in Georgia and Armenia.
Previously, Switzerland has sponsored other IDEA projects, such as:  Reconciliation After Violent Conflict: A Handbook, which presents a range of tools that can be, and have been, employed in the design and implementation of reconciliation processes. Democracy at the Local Level: The international IDEA Handbook on Participation, Representation, Conflict Management and Governance (2001), which focuses on the design and reform of local institutions, and innovative decision-making procedures for citizen involvement. IDEA’s Democracy Forum 2001, “Democracy and the Information Revolution: Values, Opportunities and Threats”, which examined the impact of information and communication technology on democracy.
| | Facts and figures about democracy in Switzerland Using IDEA’s worldwide democracy and elections databases, learn more about: 
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Switzerland’s electoral system (
Voter turnout in Switzerland 1947-2003
Information on 
Laws on 
Comparative data on election systems, laws, management and administration
