An economic survey of the Swiss economy, demonstrating successful functional capitalism.

The political and economic crisis of EU integration has made it increasingly apparent how challenging it is to bring together different sovereign cultures, languages and regions into a single political system. Switzerland – being one of the three classic federations in the world – can provide insights, particularly in relation to the accommodation of cultural, linguistic, religious and regional diversity, which can help tackle contemporary challenges. This book describes and analyses the characteristics, institutions, and processes of Swiss federalism, along with its combination of stability and change. It presents a comprehensive study of the federal system of Switzerland, where it comes from, how it operates, and the way it has changed of late. This will allow readers to appreciate the specific and current answers the Swiss case offers to the main questions raised by wider federal research. This text will be of key interest to scholars and students in federalism and territorial politics, political institutions, local and regional government studies, multi-level governance and more broadly to European and comparative politics.

This is a comprehensive introduction to Landau-Lifshitz equations and Landau-Lifshitz-Maxwell equations, beginning with the work by Yulin Zhou and Boling Guo in the early 1980s and including most of the work done by this Chinese group led by Zhou and Guo since. The book focuses on aspects such as the existence of weak solutions in multi dimensions, existence and uniqueness of smooth solutions in one dimension, relations with harmonic map heat flows, partial regularity and long time behaviors. The book is a valuable reference book for those who are interested in partial differential equations, geometric analysis and mathematical physics. It may also be used as an advanced textbook by graduate students in these fields.

The book probes into the historical evolution and modern features of Switzerland's state governance and foreign policy. They delineate the core of the Swiss model. Its main aspects are the advanced level of direct democracy and the status of neutrality. This model turned Switzerland into a symbol of a democratic and peace-loving state.

Swiss citizens approve of their government and the way democracy is practiced; they trust the authorities and are satisfied with the range of services Swiss governments provide. This is quite unusual when compared to other countries. This open access book provides insight into the organization and the functioning of the Swiss state. It claims that, beyond politics, institutions and public administration, there are other factors which make a country successful. The authors argue that Switzerland is an interesting case, from a theoretical, scientific and a more practice-oriented perspective. While confronted with the same challenges as other countries, Switzerland offers different solutions, some of which work astonishingly well.

Proteins lie at the heart of almost all biological processes and have an incredibly wide range of activities. Central to the function of all proteins is their ability to adopt, stably or sometimes transiently, structures that allow for interaction with other molecules. An understanding of the structure of a protein can therefore lead us to a much improved picture of its molecular function. This realisation has been a prime motivation of recent Structural Genomics projects, involving large-scale experimental determination of protein structures, often those of proteins about which little is known of function. These initiatives have, in turn, stimulated the massive development of novel methods for prediction of protein function from structure. Since model structures may also take advantage of new function prediction algorithms, the first part of the book deals with the various ways in which protein structures may be predicted or inferred, including specific treatment of membrane and intrinsically disordered proteins. A detailed consideration of current structure-based function prediction methodologies forms the second part of this book, which concludes with two chapters, focusing specifically on case studies, designed to illustrate the real-world application of these methods. With bang up-to-date texts from world experts, and abundant links to publicly available resources, this book will be invaluable to anyone who studies proteins and the endlessly fascinating relationship between their structure and function.

Who are the Swiss, and what unites them? What is Switzerland's place in the world? What should the Swiss protect themselves from, and which institutions should they preserve? How balance tradition and innovation? Contributors from around the globe recognize that Switzerland gains much strength from being small, from having a system of direct democracy and federalism, and from a deeply rooted commitment to liberty, together with economic wisdom and reliability. Nevertheless, the interaction with the European Union is difficult, and the United States has been putting the Swiss system under stress. Some of these conflicts might imperil Switzerland's model altogether, if creative solutions aren't found.

Receptive multilingualism refers to the language constellation in which interlocutors use their respective mother tongue while speaking to each other. Since the mid-nineties receptive multilingualism is promoted by the European commission on par with other possibilities of increasing the mobility of the European citizens. Throughout the last ten years a marked increase in the research on this topic has been observable. This volume reveals new perspectives from different theoretical frameworks on linguistic analyses of receptive multilingualism in Europe. Case studies are presented from contemporary settings, along with analyses of historical examples, theoretical considerations and, finally, descriptions of didactical concepts established in order to transfer and disseminate receptive multilingual competence. The book contains results from research carried out at the Research Center on Multilingualism at the University of Hamburg as well as contributions by various international scholars working in the field of receptive multilingualism.

The history of the Swiss National Park, from its creation in the years before the Great War to the present, is told for the first time in this book. Unlike Yellowstone Park, which embodied close cooperation between state-supported conservation and public recreation, the Swiss park put in place an extraordinarily strong conservation program derived from a close alliance between the state and scientific research. This deliberate reinterpretation of the American idea of the national park was innovative and radical, but its consequences were not limited to Switzerland. The Swiss park became the prime example of a “scientific national park,” thereby influencing the course of national parks worldwide.

Understanding Switzerland's Governance Model: A Comprehensive Overview" is an informative ebook that delves into the intricacies of Switzerland's unique system of governance. This ebook provides readers with a thorough understanding of the Swiss political structure, historical context, key government institutions, and policy domains that shape the country's governance model. The ebook begins with a preface, setting the stage for the exploration of Switzerland's governance model. It highlights the importance of understanding Switzerland's political landscape and its implications for both citizens and international observers. The ebook then provides a brief overview of the contents, offering a glimpse into the topics covered in subsequent chapters. This serves as a roadmap for readers, allowing them to anticipate the breadth and depth of information to come. The chapters included in the ebook are as follows: Introduction to Switzerland's Governance Model: Overview of Switzerland's political system and governance principles Explanation of the federal structure and the division of powers Key features that distinguish Switzerland's governance model The Swiss Confederation - A Historical Perspective: Historical context and the formation of the Swiss Confederation Evolution of Switzerland's governance model over time Insights into the cultural, linguistic, and regional diversity of Switzerland The Swiss Federal Government - At the Apex: Detailed examination of the Swiss Federal Government's structure and functions Roles and responsibilities of the President, Federal Council, and Federal Administration Overview of decision-making processes and intergovernmental coordination The Federal Chancellery - A Hub of Administrative Support: Understanding the role and significance of the Federal Chancellery Administrative support provided to the Federal Council and Federal Administration The Chancellery's role in ensuring the smooth functioning of Switzerland's governance Key Ministries and their Mandates: Overview of essential ministries within the Swiss Federal Government Detailed examination of their respective mandates and policy areas Insights into the ministries' roles in shaping and implementing government policies The Swiss Parliament: Explanation of the structure and functions of the Swiss Parliament Role of the National Council and the Council of States in the legislative process Overview of parliamentary elections, political parties, and representation The Cantons - Linking the Federal and Local: Understanding the role and significance of cantonal governments Relationship between the federal government and the cantons Overview of cantonal governance structures and decision-making processes The Swiss Model of Direct Democracy: In-depth exploration of Switzerland's unique system of direct democracy Overview of referendums, initiatives, and popular participation in decision-making Implications of direct democracy on Switzerland's governance and policy outcomes Swiss Foreign Policy: Overview of Switzerland's approach to foreign policy Examination of Switzerland's neutrality and international relations Insights into Switzerland's role in global governance and diplomacy Education, Healthcare, and Social Services: Examination of Switzerland's education system, healthcare provision, and social services Overview of policies and institutions responsible for these sectors Insights into Switzerland's approach to ensuring high-quality public services The Swiss Economic Model: Understanding Switzerland's economic model and its key characteristics Overview of Switzerland's economic sectors and their contributions Insights into Switzerland's approach to innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth The ebook concludes with a summary, highlighting the key insights gained from exploring Switzerland's governance model. It emphasizes the strengths and challenges of the Swiss system and its implications for governance and policymaking. "Understanding Switzerland's Governance Model" provides readers with a comprehensive and insightful overview of Switzerland's unique political and governance framework. It serves as an indispensable resource for individuals seeking a deeper understanding of Switzerland's governance, history, institutions, and policy domains