My story about the Swiss canton of Glarus’s Landsgemeinde gatherings is out today on National Geographic.
Switzerland holds more referendums than any country on Earth: up to four national votes a year, plus hundreds more at local and cantonal levels. This isn’t just a quirk; it’s the foundation of the Swiss political system. Through centuries-old tools of direct democracy, ordinary citizens shape laws, challenge decisions, and vote on everything from health insurance to regulations on cow horns. As populism reshapes global politics, the Swiss model offers a radically participatory (and surprisingly stable) alternative. 

Texts by Nadia Beard.

Check out the full story here