ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the most important milestones in the development of the liberal family, also labelled as Radicals, which maintains a relevant participation in government, at national and regional level. It analyses changes and continuity in its ideology and policies, examines the organisational model that has prevailed, and discusses the extent to which this model has been able to cope with changes in the world of Swiss politics. The chapter focuses on the evolution of the Swiss liberal parties, and in particular on that of the Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei (FDP)-Radical Liberal Party (PLR), before looking specifically at the FDP-PLR's ideological stance and organisation. The FDP has for long been one of the most influential parties in Swiss politics, and one that has heavily counted in federal government since the 19th century. Thus, the Swiss liberal parties experienced the most permanent national government participation among liberals in Europe and this participation is also determinant for understanding the so-called Swiss model based on power-sharing or consensus.
