Swiss Cantons: The Landsgemeinde and Direct Democracy

In this episode of The Story of Switzerland, Lucas and Luna explore the Landsgemeinde, the open-air assembly where Swiss citizens voted by show of hands for centuries. They trace its origins in the medieval forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, contrast it with the aristocratic rule in cities like Bern and Zurich, and discuss how this ancient practice shaped modern Swiss direct democracy. The conversation covers the role of the Tagsatzung, the Helvetic Republic's suppression of cantonal sovereignty, and the gradual decline of the Landsgemeinde, with Appenzell Innerrhoden holding the last one in 1999. They also examine the tension between direct democracy and modern governance, and what the Landsgemeinde reveals about Swiss identity. #Landsgemeinde #DirectDemocracy #SwissHistory #Eidgenossenschaft #Tagsatzung #Appenzell #Glarus #HelveticRepublic #Uri #Schwyz #Unterwalden #Cantons #MedievalDemocracy #SwissIdentity #FexingoHistory #Europe #19thCentury #Democracy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo