Introduction
Switzerland is known as the country that successfully keeps neutrality in political and military conflicts. Its neutrality policy started in the seventeenth century, and this country has never been involved in any wars or declared war on other states since then. The Swiss government claims that such a policy is a result of the cultural and national interest of the country. The concept of neutrality means that the country is not involved in any military conflicts, treats the opponents equally, and does not allow disposing and transferring military troops across one’s territory.
In the changing environment of the modern world, Switzerland tends to keep one’s neutrality in economic, political, and military affairs, although its humanitarian organization known as Red Cross has representatives in many territories that experienced a military conflict. The example of Switzerland is often utilized by scholars in the discussions of international neutrality experience. Therefore, it is important to investigate the roots of Swiss neutrality and research all the factors that have led to this consistent and integral policy.
Historical Factors
It is a general opinion that the neutrality of Switzerland started after the Battle of Marignano when the state’s limits of military resolution of the conflict were exhausted. Since that battle, the country has not been involved in military conflicts. Still, the first move towards absolute neutral policy was made in the period of the Thirty Years’ War when Switzerland prohibited foreign military troops from passing through its territories.
Still, during the French occupation in 1798, Switzerland became a battlefield once more (Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) in conjunction with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 2004). After the defeat of Napoleon Army in Russia, the Swiss government secured state neutrality and territorial integrity to be permanently recognized by France.
The success of Swiss policy, which led to including the statement of Switzerland neutrality to the Treaty of Vienna, guaranteed its new frontiers and neutrality for the next decades (Central Intelligence Agency, 2007). The Congress of Vienna ensured the recognition of the government legitimacy of the Swiss Confederation and its independence by other countries. During the Franco-Prussian War, Swiss initiatives in the Red Cross foundation and armed neutrality policy led to international recognition of its neutrality.
The signing of the Hague Conventions where duties of neutral states were listed had made Swiss neutrality official. Thus, it is possible to say that the successive external policy of the Swiss government ensured the continuous neutrality of the state for a long period, which made its neutrality a tradition officially recognized by other countries.
Cultural Factors
Switzerland traditionally is a home for several cultures. It includes people who speak different languages and preach to different religions. Therefore, neutrality is aimed to guarantee the integrity of the country and was also applied in internal conflicts. During the First World War, it was uneasy for Switzerland to keep neutrality because one part of the country, consisting of citizens with French origin, supported the Allies while the other part of native Germans approved the nationalistic ideas of Germany. When Germany gained power, many nationalists supported the idea of forced inclusion of Swiss territories to Germany borders.
Some researchers state that “it was clear to the entire governing body of the nation – both to politicians and to those in the military – that neutrality must be safeguarded at all costs” although it was difficult to promote it among the population (Moos, 2014, p. 4). Therefore, if Switzerland were involved in the war in some way, it probably would have faced severe internal conflicts and civil war, which might have been the end of its existence as an independent state.
Only the policy of armed neutrality and the statements to defend it by violence in case of intrusion, helped the Swiss government to keep the country safe. It is believed that the United States supported the same model of neutrality until they were involved in the First World War by conflict with Germany. Some researchers state that “Wilson suggested a new conception of world politics incompatible with neutrality” (Gabriel, 1998, p. 2).
Still, the small size and geographical position of Switzerland make it impossible to compare it to the United States, although they have some similarities in the cultural diversity of the population. It is noted that “the end of the war brought a renewal of recognition Swiss neutrality by the Great Powers as contained in Article 435 of the Treaty of Versailles” (Dreyer & Jesse, 2014, p. 64). Thus, the First World War evidenced the involvement of Switzerland in diplomatic relations and humanitarian operations to prove the effectiveness of its neutral policy further.
National Interests
During the Second World War, Switzerland maintained the same policy of neutrality as in the previous military conflicts in Europe. Germany was reported to have had mixed plans for this country. Its small sizes, neutrality, and financial and economic relations with Germany kept the state safe at the beginning of the war. Although the invasion was expected, German troops got involved in a long-lasting confrontation with the Soviet Union at its territories, and the intrusion to Switzerland was postponed. Still, the Swiss government was cautious and remained on the alert until the end of the war.
Switzerland was widely criticized because of its policy. Still, some researchers state that “the nature of the Swiss economy demanded that such relations continue due to the nearly complete reliance of industry on imported raw materials” (Dreyer & Jesse, 2014, p. 65). Therefore, national interests were always a cornerstone of Swiss neutral policy to keep the country economically prosperous even during wartime.
It is noted that Switzerland provided unofficial aid to both sides of the conflict (McComas, 2016). Its territory was used for meetings, humanitarian activities, and as a source of goods. Nevertheless, its banks are believed to be used by Nazis to keep plunder, which was possible because of the neutrality of the country. Although it cannot be counted as assistance to Hitler, the neutral policy of Switzerland in some way helped Germany to spread its influence in Europe.
Still, it is possible to say that if the Swiss government had not supported the neutral policy, the country would have been invaded at the beginning of the war and could not have provided humanitarian help to those who fought against Hitler as well. Thus, Swiss policy is led to keep its integrity and national interests rather than support involvement in any military or economic coalitions. It is stated that neutrality was always a key element of Swiss policy and it has invaded the minds of its population since the early times of the country’s existence (Bonjour, 1952). The events that followed the Second World War prove this statement, including Swiss policy towards the EU and NATO. Its neutrality was also cited as an example by Moscow during the Cold War (Central Intelligence Agency, 2007).
Conclusion
The analysis of the historical and cultural roots of Swiss neutrality leads to the conclusion that the external and internal policy of the country is deeply influenced by traditions and national interests, as well as the economy. The state of neutrality helps the country to maintain economic stability and remain independent. The country participates in the international unions only if it is compatible with the concept of neutrality. Thus, it does not search for membership in NATO because it would mean involvement in military conflicts. Still, the membership in economic unions is regarded to be beneficial by the Swiss government.
References
Bonjour, E. (1952). Swiss neutrality, its history and meaning. (M. Hottinger, Trans.). Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
Central Intelligence Agency. (2007). To Deputy Director (intelligence): A short history of Switzerland neutrality, April 23, 1955. Washington, DC: Huntington D. S.
Dreyer, J., & Jesse, N. G. (2014). Swiss neutrality Examined: Model, exception or both? Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, 15(3), 61-83.
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) in conjunction with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). (2004). Swiss neutrality (4th ed.). Bern, Switzerland: Aeschimann, S. et al.
Gabriel, J. M. (1998). Swiss neutrality and the “American Century”: Two conflicting worldviews. Web.
McComas, K. (2016). The neutrality of Switzerland: Deception, gold, and the Holocaust. Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II, 21(1), 82-93.
Moos, C. (2014). Politics and neutrality (Switzerland). Web.