Behind Successful Democracy Stands an Ethical Stick to Whip It Right.

Reposted from face-book post dated 14 April, 2013

Behind chocolate,cheese and banking lies a successful thriving nation amidst the Euro crisis. Switzerland, a Schengen signatory is not part of Europe, operates on its own currency but benefited immensely from EU through trade agreement and records a steady economic growth of 2-3 percent (2007-2012). In addition, the government is incredibly stable for the last 50 years. The Swiss institutions are accountable, transparent, active and participative. The Federal Council Representing all major five parties is found to be an effective instrument for handling disagreements between conflicting groups, the opposition and the governing party.

The successful electoral process is evidenced in the frequent polling as many as four times a year through popular initiative (100,000 signatures in 18 months) and that all constitutional changes are subject to mandatory public referendums. In the last few years, Swiss citizens by gathering 50,000 signatures within 100 days have initiated legislation on several social protection issues.

Most importantly, the effective and responsive administrative process in Switzerland seems to hit the final nail of impressive democratic success. Active and participative political processes under government driven commissions develop legislation for immediate scrutiny of parliament. The self-discipline by the government ensured genuine transparency in dealings with public affairs. The transparency automatically accounted for all spending including election expenditures and the broader spending inequalities. Swiss laws are stated to have banned political advertising on television and radio.

Whilst European Union under bureaucratic control lacks the federal spirit of union cooperation, the participative approach strengthens cooperative efforts and team spirit between groups and government. The Swiss case reaffirms that humans as creator of institutions and systems ultimately are responsible for the good, bad and ugly. It is called the human factor.

The tiny landlocked nation with little natural resources endowed with valuable human resource now reaching barely 8 millions sustained growths for decades. The success of Switzerland speaks of the quality of its citizens not very visible in quantity but certainly impressive in quality. Enabled citizens are products of conscious community made wise from sound educational system. And that education is not merely literacy, it is the knowledge to understand and handle life situations.

Collective Intelligence fed by ethics of work taught from good education strengthens the institutions (political, economical, social, and educational). Good norms and practices introduced in the system fed by good ethics taught from good education enabled citizens to question and account for the results. The ability of the citizens to push the government to do the right thing is the key reason for the smart operation of systems in the institutions.

Perhaps, it is time to be appreciative of performers and say ‘I like your chocolate and cheese, but I like your honesty better’’.

(This piece shows that behind the institutional capacities lie the individual capacities. It is called the human factor.)