Switzerland is a country with direct democracy, and all important issues are resolved in national referendums. Citizens of the country are actively involved in the socio-political process and directly determine in which direction the country will move. Therefore, the struggle for public opinion in Switzerland is fierce.
Campaign posters are one of the methods to influence beliefs, and they are popular in Switzerland even now. According to the curator of the poster collection, Dr. Bettina Richter, this is also a propaganda channel. Campaign posters contain a short, clear, and vivid message. And it can also be manipulative and fake. How do these and the latest propaganda tools affect democracy? Does it have a future?
During the Club meeting, USPS alumni had an opportunity to talk with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Ukraine Claude Wild, and President of the Swiss democracy foundation Adrian Schmid.
Modern channels of information dissemination pose a threat to stability of democracy, despite that Mr. Claude Wild believes it is necessary not to resist the latest technologies but to learn to act ahead of their negative impact.
Direct democracy is not an ideal form of government. However, Switzerland is daily looking for ways to improve and counteract fakes.
Gratitude to the Embassy of Switzerland to Ukraine for the meaningful evening. And to Tsekh Gallery for an opportunity to see the Swiss “political art”.
