Tinker, tailor, soldier... Foreign Minister? The runners and riders for Switzerland's new federal councillor

The Swiss government is composed of a seven-member Federal Council, which is usually appointed after a parliamentary election. However, on 20 September, a new member of the Federal Council will be appointed due to the resignation of Swiss foreign minister Didier Burkhalter in June. Sean Mueller gives an overview of the three main candidates vying for the position

Conclusion (Special Issue on Federalism and Identity)

The three articles included in this special issue are extremely diverse, both in terms of objects studied and methods employed. Travelling from Russia to the EU is a long journey to undertake. Reconciling formal economic models, discourse analysis, and domestic institutionalism is no less challenging. However, at least three commonalities emerge: state formation, territorial identity and the importance of the informal dimension of federalism

Optical Measurements in Gas-Liquid Stirred Tanks

This dissertation outlines the development of novel, in-situ and relatively inexpensive optical measurement techniques for use in opaque multiphase reactors at elevated temperature: 350 ┬░C) and pressure: 180 bar) environments where conventional measurement techniques either cannot be used or are difficult or expensive to implement. Important parameters: such as gas holdup, specific interfacial area, bubble velocity, bubble chord lengths, liquid level, and phase transition) in opaque, multiphase reactors at industrially relevant conditions are lacking in the literature. A miniaturized 4-point probe is developed and methodology outlined that can simultaneously capture local gas holdup, interfacial area, size, and velocities of bubbles in a multiphase stirred tank reactor where small bubble sizes can be expected, especially at elevated pressures and/or high agitation rates. The miniaturized 4-point probe accurately captures bubble dynamics of bubbles as small as 850 microns at elevated temperature and pressure. Single-point probes are also developed that are moveable under high pressure that can measure liquid level in a reactor as well as the volumetric expansion of carbon dioxide expanded liquids: CXLs are an emerging green technology). A reflectance-based probe: a 7-fiber, hexagonally packed bundle) that detects critical opalescence and thus the phase transition of complex, multicomponent systems from the subcritical to the supercritical state is also developed for the investigation of CXLs. Most importantly, detailed instructions for construction of all of the above optical probe technologies are provided in a step-by-step manner

The last piece of the puzzle? Making sense of the Swiss town of Moutier’s decision to leave the canton of Bern

The Swiss town of Moutier has voted to leave the canton of Bern and join the neighbouring canton of Jura. Sean Mueller explains the complex history surrounding the decision. On 28 March, a majority of 55% of voters in the Swiss town of Moutier decided to leave the canton of Bern behind and join the ... Continue

What to expect from Switzerland’s five referendums on 27 September

On 27 September, Switzerland will hold referendums on five different topics. Sean Mueller presents a preview of the votes, which will include a proposal to end the country’s free movement agreement with the EU

Swiss Democracy

This open access book provides an updated and fully revised 4th edition of this authoritative analysis of Swiss democracy. It particularly explains the institutions of federalism and consensus government through political power sharing. In this new edition, the authors also address several important changes and challenges that have affected Swiss democracy, including the country's relationship with the EU, fiscal equalisation, direct democracy and the legitimacy of national referendums, territorial conflict, as well as the polarisation of party politics