ABSTRACT
The analysis of Swiss federalism today focuses upon the role of the cantons and the strategies they engage in to protect their interests. In the first part an account is rendered of how the most important institutions of Swiss federalism operate and the outcomes they promote. Taking advantage of the growing empirical research on Swiss federalism, the second part presents new findings on the variations in the 26 cantons in terms of institutional structures, and it probes the impact of the differences between the cantons on policy outcomes. In the final part, the need for and possibilities of reform of Swiss federalism are discussed.
