Interest Groups in Switzerland

• Author: Dusan Sidjanski
• DOI: 10.1177/000271627441300109
• Published date: 01 May 1974
• Date: 01 May 1974
• Subject Matter: Articles

Interest Groups in Switzerland
By DUSAN SIDJANSKI
ABSTRACT: 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.
Dusan Sidjanski is Professor of Political Science at the University of Geneva
and Chairman of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Economic and
Social Sciences. Many of his works and studies contributed to the analysis of
pressure groups and their influence; among others, he wrote Les Groupes de
pression dans la Communauté européenne
in
collaboration with Jean Meynaud
and L’Europe des Affaires.
The author wishes to express his thanks to the Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research
for their grant for the study of Swiss groups and to Mr. M. Sliwinski and Mr. J. Nicola who
constructed some of the tables for this study.
101

---

102
EXCEPT for a few cases of
E
transformed the structure of the
closed decisions, the Swiss
Swiss economy and the decision-
decision-making apparatus is char-
making process. No less than 1,100
acterized by extensive consultation
socioeconomic groupings came into
of socioeconomic organizations. The
being between 1871 and 1972.1
progressive flowering of occupa-
1. Liste des associations professionnelles
tional groupings since the second
et économiques de la Suisse, 12th ed.
half of the nineteenth century has
(Bern: OFIAMT, 1968).
FIGURE 1
BREAKDOWN OF NUMBER OF SWISS OCCUPATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE YEAR
FIGURE 2
TWO-YEARLY AVERAGE NUMBERS OF OCCUPATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS SET UP

---

103
THE
PATTERN
OF
INTEREST GROUPS
and the management side. Not much
later, in 1897, the farmers were also
Development and numbers
to organize at the federal level.
By 1900 the big four, which to this
As is shown in figures 1 and 2,
day have remained a constant factor
this process was at first compara-
in all consultations, had been estab-
tively slow; the yearly average be- lished. Sectoral organizations were
tween 1871 and 1904 amounted to
to develop later; the timing for the
3.5. The period from 1905 to 1922
principal employers and workers
witnessed a sharp acceleration- organizations is shown in table 1.
264-with a yearly average of 15.5 Once these major sectors of activity
and three peaks-21 new organiza- were covered, the development
tions in 1907, 23 in 1917 and, again,
process followed a path of increasing
in 1919. For the period 1923 to 1931
specialization in line with the wide
the yearly number of new associa- diversification of the economy. Ta-
tions fell to an average of 13, but ble 1 also reveals a parallel between
in 1932 an all-time high was reached the establishment of employers and
with the formation of 32 groupings. workers organizations.
That year marked the beginning of
The 1967 breakdown of the 1,081
a period which, coming in the wake
occupational associations then in
of the Great Depression, was the existence is shown in table 2. While
most
active in terms of new organiza-
these are only rough indications,
tional structures; no less than 336 they do give an idea of organiza-
groupings were formed over sixteen
tional density in relation to the
years-from 1932 to 1948-an av-
size of the active population on a
erage of 21 per year. From 1949
sector-by-sector basis, by revealing
to 1972-the period for which data
an over-all ratio of 1 organization
are available-the annual average
for every 2,600 people as compared
was a more modest 8.8. For the
with 1 per 2,000 in the service
entire period under review-1871
sector-the highest density; 1
to 1972-the
per
mean was 10.7 per
2,500 in agriculture; and the mark-
year, with a median of 13 and a
edly lower
mode of
ratio-substantially
8.
lower, in fact, than the general
The most important associations average-of 3,140 in industry. This
-above all, the big four which are is so because the large trade union
central to the entire consultation
organizations are found mainly in
process-all came into being during this sector, the outstanding example
the initial period. Thus, Vorort- being the USS with its 440,000
the Swiss Commerce and Industry members.
Union-was set up in 1870 and was
followed
Main
shortly thereafter, by Un-
features
ion Suisse des arts et metiers
These groupings may be de-
(USAM)-the Swiss Union of Arts
scribed in terms of, among others,
and Crafts-in 1879 and the Union
the following four characteristics:
syndicale Suisse (USS)-Swiss Fed-
(1) type of grouping, (2) geographical
eration of Trade Unions-in 1880.
concentration, (3) network of affilia-
Thus, from the very beginning, the tions and (4) federative structure.
rapidly expanding secondary and
Of the 1,081 associations: 728
tertiary sectors had central organiza-
are employers associations; 159 are
tions of their own on both the labor
wage earners or salaried employees

---

104
TABLE 1
FOUNDING OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATIONS
TABLE 2
ECONOMIC AND OCCUPATIONAL GROUPINGS BROKEN DOWN BY SECTOR*
* No data showing the share of gross national product per sector are available.
associations; and 194 are of other
said to cover essentially all of the
types. The trade unions axiomati-
needs arising within the Swiss
cally try to mold themselves ac-
community.
cording to the structures of the
From the point of view of con-
employers organizations; however,
centration, Zurich is the location of
the differences in number be-
two-fifths-419, including 375 for
tween employer and trade union
the city of Zurich-of all associa-
associations reflect basic differences
tions. Bern comes next with 293-
in membership, organization, de-
224 for the city of Bern. Together,
gree of concentration and impor-
these two cantons account for two-
tance of the main sectors. By and
thirds of the total-712 out of 1,081.
large, the existing groupings may be
The reason for this concentration is

---

105
the economic and industrial pre- the farmers (USP) and their net-
dominance of Zurich and the pres- work are more marginally located,
ence of the federal government
while the USS constitutes a system
in Bern. The remaining associations of its own.
are disseminated as follows: 74 in
As do equivalent organizations in
Basle; 53 in the canton of Vaud, other countries, the four central
including 40 in Lausanne; 35 in organizations-the USCI, USAM,
Geneva; 32 in Aargan; 31 in St.
USS and USP-include vertical
Gallen; 26 in Neuchatel; and 25 associations or occupational federa-
in Lucerne and Solothurn.2 As for
tions, as well as the regional group-
the network of affiliations, 184 ings-including the associations of
national associations are affiliated
the French-speaking part of Switzer-
with the USAM, 113 with the Vorort, land-which, in turn, form regional
30 with the Central Union of Em-
central organizations. Typical of the
ployers AssociationS,3 34 with the Swiss system is the pattern of organ-
Union Suisse des paysans (USP),
izations at the level of the cantons,
15 with the USS, 13 with the Swiss
with each central canton section in-
Federation of Salaried Employees, cluding canton sections of the socio-
11 with the Confederation of Chris-
economic federations covering the
tian Trade Unions and 9 with the
main areas of economic and social
Federated Union of Staffs of Public
activity in the canton. In many
Administrations and Enterprises.
cases these organizations predated
If one were to draw a diagram, the setting up of the first asso-
the USAM would be at the center
ciations at the federal level; they
of the diagram; it has both the enjoy wide autonomy and have their
largest number of affiliates and the own differentiated functions. This
most organic links with other or-
federative pattern, which reflects the
ganizations, which are made up of diversity of the country and its
various handicraft units and small-
political organization, influences the
and medium-sized enterprises. Al- decision-making process within the
national
though
associations; for, in spite
occupying a less central posi-
of the important part played by the
tion, the Vorort (USCI) is most
strategically placed. In addition
permanent central secretariat and
to
the leadership at the national level,
the 60 organizations exclusively the making of decisions...