As it stands at the moment, a charismatic leader seems much more important than the right policies.

Better for whom? From the point of view of a politician who wants to be elected, it is helpful to be charismatic. But frankly I think the public at large are getting a little fed up with politics based on spin, presentation and soundbites. We would rather have a leader who has good policies.

You are right but tell your MP and the PM this dont leave it languishing on a bearly registerable forum page.

This is one of those areas where there will be more opinions that contributions.

It depends on how you define three terms: leader, 'right' policies and charismatic as to what debate you will have so I chose a model not often looked at.

Look at Switzeland in their democaracy they don't have a pre-eminenet leader - yet the country is well led, they don't have anyone in history (OK may be William Tell if he was Swiss) that could be called charismatic and they have policies but there is no external debate as to whether they are the right policies. The policies are modified as the situation changes.

The Swiss don't feel the need to attack other countries, change governements and they don't suffer from corruption or expenses scandals and so on - if they do I missed that.

There are models of democracy ignored by many European countries because each has its own culturally acceptable form of democracy.

Ultimately if Europe is to forge like the United States there can only be one type of democracy - perhaps that of the Swiss would make a refreshing change for the EEC.

Would the USA model work in Europe possible.

I'm not so sure of this Swiss models validity in the event of a Europe wide political union (of which I am not greatly in favour of). The Swiss model is founded in a country that has carved a niche for itself in the modern world based on its finance industry - the country is awash with money much of it originating overseas - and runs a protectionist economy. It's basically a tax haven, and a parasite of sorts with regards to the world economy. How well lead it would be, and what pressures would arise, if it was not in that position and all the wealth it has vis-a-vis the rest of the world? It would probably not be any different from a number of other small European countries.

So I dont think the Swiss model is relevant on a Europe wide basis. If it was replicated on a Europe wide basis it would not work, everywhere cant be a tax haven.

Leadership and policies ought not to be seen as mutually exclusive. And an active participation and interest in political issues by the general population ought not to be in second place to either. Charasmatic leadership is basically a fraud, it works for a few years - remember Tony Blair at the beginning - then it all begins to unravel. . . once all the hot air dissapates the chill of reality will eventually be felt.

Charisma? We're told that Thatcher, Blair and Cameron have this - it would seem then that one has charisma instead of decent policies.
Which is not to say that lack of charisma (Brown, Clegg) entails decent policies.
I think HuddsOn has it about right.

You need both to inspire people and to get the world moving, one is no good without the other. Brown is the worst of both worlds as he has neither!

Switzerland is made up of four different cultural backgrounds and languages. Although it has an army (with conscription) it is a pacifist country which has not fought any wars (nor supplied mercenaries to other countries) for centuries and therefore has enjoyed stability and continuity.
Although there are cultural/language differences/difficulties, all people feel they are Swiss first and Swiss German, Swiss French etc. second. This common unifying bond defines Switzerland and it makes a model for the European Union. We should accept/feel that we are Europeans first and foremost and British, French etc. secondly.
It all depends on peoples belief systems and values on an individual basis (leader, politician, citizen) as well as collectively. To assume that people in the rest of Europe have no comparable values compared to the British people
shows an arrogance and total lack of intelligence.

Hi E.Benjamin,

You say that "To assume that people in the rest of Europe have no comparable values compared to the British people shows an arrogance and total lack of intelligence." - not sure who thats aimed at but given you replied to my post I find it a bit puzzling.

Swiss stability has survived and been under written by carving a niche for itself in the world with it's secretive banking laws and as a tax haven- a relationship that is basically parasitic. How many third world dictators and other dubious figures have used Swiss banking to siphon off billions upon billions of loot.

I would suggest that a small country with a population of about 7.5 million with a completely atypical economy that CANNOT be replicated on a European basis isn't a model for anything.

Well said S. Wood.
I went over to Geneva and Lugano many years ago after meeting an Italian-Swiss university student in England and I really felt at home there. No hassle, no litter, trains on time, polite citizens and decent parents/grandparents too, I should have stayed there!
An opportunity missed.