Applications
The Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau operates the Democracy Barometer a database on referendums and a database on Swiss elections and votes. Teachers can find materials, information and suggestions for teaching political education on a selection of platforms on the subject of political education.
Referendum Database
The Referendum Database RDB provides an overview of the institutional availability and the results of referendums at the national level – worldwide and since the end of the 18th century. Publicly accessible and continuously updated, it is an important source for democracy researchers to compare direct democracy globally. For Switzerland, data on all cantonal referendums since 1970 is also available.
Lead: Uwe Serdült
Team Members: Robin Gut, Kymani Koelewijn, Jonas Wüthrich
Database
Swiss Elections and Votes Database (ZDA-BFS)
The series of cantonal and municipal elections and the four annual voting dates keep Swiss democracy alive between national elections. On behalf of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the ZDA compiles a database on the cantonal parliamentary and government elections, the elections in the 130 or so Swiss cities, the party positions and municipal results of the national referendums and the elections to the national parliament.
Lead: Daniel Kübler, Daniel Bochsler, Thomas Milic
Team Members: Philippe Rochat, Alessandro Feller
Website
Democracy Barometer
The Democracy Barometer measures the quality of thirty established democracies. The most important data is publicly accessible. This makes it possible to make your own comparisons and analyses. The website provides comparative data on the principles of freedom (individual liberties, rule of law, public sphere), equality (participation, representation, transparency) and control (governance, competition, horizontal control of powers). The indicators used to calculate these principles are also listed. Country reports and other materials (codebook, methodology) complete the offer.
Lead: Sarah Engler
Team Members: Korinna Lindemann, Laura-Vanessa Soldner
Website
PB-Tools
With PB-Tools, teachers can maintain an overview of civic education. We support teachers in empowering students to observe, inquire and investigate, ask questions and make independent judgments. The platform contains learning units, didactic tips and background information and, from its launch, will replace the previous “Political Education” platform with its highly up-to-date offering.
Learning Game «yes – no – maybe?»
yes – no – maybe?
Playfully explore what it means to live democracy. The game offers nine role-playing games on topics relevant to democracy for lessons in the field of political education at secondary levels I and II.
Learning Game «Cycle of Politics»
The educational game Cycles of Politics shows how politics works in an understandable, interesting and realistic way. It demonstrates the political cycle in a playful way.
LearnPolitics
Online portal with concrete examples for lessons on the topics of democracy, class councils and voting.
SpielPolitik!
The simulation “SpielPolitik!” is a complete teaching unit that includes preparation and follow-up work in the classroom as well as two project days in Bern in and around the Federal Palace. The participating lower secondary school classes prepare for the project days by formulating a political issue that is important to them as a popular initiative.