ABSTRACT
Swiss society clearly had a significant and continuing stratum of conservatism which provided a necessary reservoir of public support for populism. And, in the Swiss People's Party (SVP), populism had not just any old organization but a highly effective one which is largely in line with the basic values of Swiss populism. In fact, the SVP seems focused on the idea of making the party the dominant, and solely legitimate, political force in the country. The SVP now has a dual structure. On the one hand, it is based on cantonal sections, which have their own officers and support staffs. On the other, there are special sections for seniors, youth and women. Indeed, Roger Koppell, one of its leading intellectuals and now an immensely popular MP, claims that for 30 years the party has been the smartest kid on the block. In fact, the SVP has pioneered a string of tactics for achieving its aims.
