Business power, right-wing populism, and noisy politics: lessons from Brexit and Swiss referendums.

This article examines how business associations exercise power in the context of noisy politics and right-wing populism, focusing on the contrasting cases of the UK's 2016 Brexit referendum and Switzerland's frequent referendums led by the Swiss business federation Economiesuisse. It argues that while the Brexit Remain campaign's failure was influenced by legal constraints under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), cautious leadership decisions by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and weak campaigning strategies, Swiss business has maintained significant influence by deploying ample financial resources and innovative, emotionally resonant public campaigns. Economiesuisse has won 90% of the referendums it has led since 2000, including many high-salience votes against the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP), demonstrating that business power can persist and even thrive in noisy, populist environments when supported by strategic campaigning and coalition-building. The article concludes that business fragmentation and the decline of quiet politics do not necessarily lead to business defeat, but success increasingly depends on adapting to the dynamics of loud, emotionally charged political arenas.