معرفی
Dr. Hans-Peter Schaub serves as Project Manager for Année Politique Suisse at the Institute of Political Science, University of Bern, where he oversees the Swissvotes data platform—the most comprehensive collection of data on direct democratic referendums in Switzerland. He also serves as editor for the Année Politique chapters on political parties and associations, contributing significantly to documentation of Swiss political institutions.
Schaub completed his academic training in political science, German linguistics, and economics at the Universities of Bern, Vilnius (Lithuania), and Bielefeld (Germany), culminating in a dissertation at the Universities of Zurich and Bern examining the impact of the assembly system (Landsgemeinde) and ballot system on democracy quality in Swiss cantons. His professional background includes several years working for the parliamentary services of the Cantonal Council of Zurich, the Federal Assembly, and the Finance Directorate of the Canton of Bern.
Dr. Schaub's research program centers on direct democracy with specialized expertise in assembly democracy systems, particularly Switzerland's unique Landsgemeinde. His work rigorously compares assembly-based democracy with ballot-based systems across Swiss cantons, analyzing how institutional design affects democratic quality, political participation, and representation. He investigates political parties within Switzerland's concordance democracy framework and examines referendum campaigns, voting behavior patterns, and digital transformations of democratic processes like e-collecting. His methodological approach combines quantitative analysis of voting data with qualitative examination of political discourse and institutional arrangements.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on Swiss democratic institutions with increasing attention to digital aspects of democracy. His work spans political science, comparative politics, and institutional analysis, demonstrating methodological diversity through both large-scale voting pattern analysis and nuanced examination of political participation in settings like the Glarus Landsgemeinde. Schaub's research bridges theoretical political science with practical implications for democratic design and reform.
Dr. Schaub maintains extensive collaborative relationships with leading scholars in Swiss political science, most notably Marc Bühlmann, with whom he has co-edited multiple volumes and research projects. His work has been supported by institutions including the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Federal Chancellery, reflecting its significance to understanding Swiss democracy.
As Project Manager of the Swissvotes platform, Schaub leads a significant research infrastructure that serves as a vital resource for scholars studying Swiss democracy across federal, cantonal, and communal levels. His expertise is frequently sought by major Swiss media outlets including NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger, and SRF, where he provides evidence-based analysis of democratic processes and political developments.
