!!

!
!
Switzerland:
A Neutral Country


Date: To Be Determined Grade: 10-12
Teacher Name: Subject: Economics
1. Topic-

The economic makeup of Switzerland and its history and reasoning for neutrality

2. Content-

A discussion of Switzerlands current economic condition and the political implications and influences of
its famously neutral standing in international relations.

3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-

1. Apply economic concepts to a real-world example
2. Understand the political-economic connection of decision making at the national level
3. Students will begin to understand the effects of Switzerlands neutral status.

4. Objectives-

1. Introduce Switzerlands economic condition and current political administration. Work through module
presentation.
2. Read and conduct discussion of Swiss Neutrality Found in Appendix or at
http://www.eda.admin.ch/etc/medialib/downloads/edazen/doc/publi.Par.0016.File.tmp/Swiss%20neutral
ity.pdf
3. Research and defend/contest the case for neutrality

5. Materials and Aids-

Computer, projector, pens/pencils, paper, chalkboard/white board, board writing utensil






6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-
!The day before the less, begin by asking what they think of when they hear Switzerland. Spend 3-5
minutes collecting their responses. If youd like, show them something like the YouTube video Magic
Switzerland, which contains many of the typical, beautiful Swiss images. (Found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTQr4M_OdNc). Then ask what the students know about
Switzerland politically. Most likely, neutrality will be one of their responses. Ask class to read the
Swiss Neutrality article for the next class period
B. Development-
1. Work through the PowerPoint, introducing Switzerland's economic situation and the political nature of
its economic choices
2. Focus on discussing the economic concepts taught
3. Conduct discussion of the Swiss Neutrality
4. Assign persuasive paper that defends or contradicts Switzerlands neutral position

C. Practice-
1.After finishing the PowerPoint, review the major elements of Switzerland's economy and what that
means both at the national and individual levels.
2. As a class, discuss the article Swiss Neutrality focusing on the following questions:
a) Why would Geneva be an ideal location for international organizations?
b) What political implications have there been for Switzerland itself and the countries with which it
interacts?
c) What alternatives does Switzerland have to neutrality?
d) What historical precedents have caused Switzerland to be neutral?
e) Where else in Swiss society do we see evidence of neutrality?
f) The article read was written by the Swiss government. What, if any, arguments do they make for
neutrality?









7. Evaluation/Assessment

After the discussion, explain to the students that just as the Swiss government defends it neutrality, so too
each student must also decide whether they agree or disagree with Switzerlands philosophy of neutrality
and defend it. Answer theTheir arguments will be presented in a 2-3 page paper that clearly outlines their
arguments and disputes counter-arguments. Attached by a possible grading rubric.


8. Appendix-

Attached please find Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide.
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SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
SWISS NEUTRALITY
4
Ih
revised ediIioh
/ lrctInrc pnl|i:IcJ ly tIc lcJcrs| 0cpsrtucrt cf 0cfcrtc,
ivi| rctctticr srJ Jpcrt: /00J} ir tcrjnrtticr witI tIc
lcJcrs| 0cpsrtucrt cf lcrcir /ffsir: /0l/}.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
%,%-%.43/&.%542!,)49
The decisive factors governing our policy of neutrality are the national interest, the body
of law on neutrality, the international situation as well as our tradition and history.
The policy decisiohs oI
every couhIry are based
oh iIs owh ihIeresIs, iIs
tradition ahd iIs history.
The Iaw of neutraIity
deIhes Ihe righIs ahd
duIies oI a heuIral sIaIe.
NeutraIity poIicy saIe-
guards Ihe eIIecIive-
hess ahd credibiliIy oI
heuIraliIy. I is based
oh law, oh Ihe ihIeresIs
oI Ihe couhIry, oh Ihe
ihIerhaIiohal siIuaIioh,
ahd oh iIs hisIory ahd
IradiIioh.
The internationaI situa-
tion has ah ihIuehce oh
heuIraliIy policy's scope
Ior acIioh. SwiIzerlahd's
scope was greaIly
resIricIed durihg Ihe
Secohd World War, Ior
example.
The term neutral is derived from the Latin: ne uter neither one nor the other.
A power is neutral when it does not take sides in a war. Switzerlands neutrality is self-
determined, permanent and armed.
i
s
s
s
s
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
42!$)4)/.
Suce:
AnnuaI secuty" stues by
the Svss NItay CIIege at the
FeeaI Insttute f TechnIgy
n Zuch
Opinions of Swiss citizens on
neutraIity and soIidarity
Lohg-Ierm public opihioh polls (approval raIes)
AcIive heuIraliIy hIerhal cohesioh
HisIory hoI ohly IaughI SwiIzerlahd Io keep ouI oI
Ioreigh cohIicIs, iI also IaughI iI Ihe imporIahce oI
acIive solidariIy.
SwiIzerlahd's ihvolvemehI here rahges Irom humahi-
Iariah ihIerhmehI (example Bourbaki Army) Io Ihe
world-wide ehgagemehI oI Ihe hIerhaIiohal CommiI-
Iee oI Ihe Ped Cross (CPC) ahd Irom Ihe Good OII-
ces oI diplomacy Io Ihe ceaseIre observers ih Korea
ahd Ihe Swiss compahy (SWSSCOY) ih Kosovo.
h SwiIzerlahd, a couhIry wiIh several culIures,
lahguages ahd religiohs, heuIraliIy has also always
served Io guarahIee ihIerhal cohesioh whereby Ihe
prihciple oI heuIraliIy was also applied Io cohIicIs
wiIhih Ihe CohIederaIioh.
A shiII away Irom heuIraliIy Io ah acIive Ioreigh
policy ih Ihe 16
Ih
cehIury (religious cohIicIs), Ior ex-
ample, would have led Io uhbearable Iehsiohs.
h Ihe 19
Ih
ahd 20
Ih
cehIuries, sidihg wiIh Germahy
or Frahce would have precipiIaIed Ihe CohIederaIioh
ihIo a haIiohal crisis.
WiIhouI exIerhal heuIraliIy, ihIerhal cohesioh would
be uhIhihkable.
SymbI f humantaan
tatn: Seat f the
IntenatnaI Cmmttee
f the Pe Css (ICPC)
n Geneva
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100%
1993 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
SwiIzerlahd should reIaih iIs heuIraliIy
SwiIzerlahd should Iake a clear sIahd Ior ohe
side or Ihe oIher ih pItcaI cohIicIs abroad buI
remaih heuIral ih miliIary cohIicIs
SwiIzerlahd should Iake a clear sIahd Ior ohe
side or Ihe oIher ih mItay cohIicIs abroad
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
()34/29
Originally neutrality was a kind of emergency stop-gap. However, over the course of
history, it brought clear advantages and is therefore rmly rooted in Switzerlands self-
perception.
In the Federal Agreement of 1815 and in the constitutions of 1848, 1874 and 1999,
neutrality became a foreign policy norm for the authorities.
This maxim was always exibly adapted to the circumstances and applied according
to the interests of the country.
BaIIle oI Marighaho

A cohIederaIe army oI 20,000 meh ehcouhIered Ihe

miliIary limiIs oI Iederal power poliIics aI Ihe baIIle oI
Marighaho. Frahcis oI Frahce cohcluded a lahdmark
peace wiIh Ihe cohquered ih 1516. This peace Iormed
Ihe cohIracIual basis oI SwiIzerlahd's reIicehce ih
Ioreigh policy Ior cehIuries. UhiIy ih Ioreigh policy
maIIers was impossible ih Ihe period oI dehomiha-
Iiohal Iehsiohs ahyway.
SwiIzerlahd as a baIIleIeld

The ma|or Europeah powers IghI Io gaih cohIrol

oI Ihe Alpihe IrahsiI rouIes. SwiIzerlahd becomes a
IheaIre oI war.
The Frehch cohquer Ihe cahIoh oI Graubhdeh buI
are driveh back beyohd Zurich by Ihe AusIriahs. AIIer
Ihe secohd BaIIle oI Zurich, Ihe Frehch re-cohquer
easIerh SwiIzerlahd. The AusIro-Pussiah army uhder
Alexahder Suvorov is Iorced Io leave SwiIzerlahd
via Pragel, Pahixer ahd SahkI LuzisIeig. The civiliah
populaIioh suIIers greaIly ahd imposed burdehs oI
war are severe. The DirecIoire oI Ihe HelveIic Pepub-
lic demahds Irom Frahce Ihe resIoraIioh oI Swiss
heuIraliIy. For power poliIical reasohs Ihis is reIused.
Suvv at the Gttha Pass
BaIIle oI Beresiha

AIIer Ihe Frehch cohquesI oI 1798, Ihere was ho

heuIraliIy Ior SwiIzerlahd Ior 16 years. AIIer Frahce's
uhsuccessIul Pussiah campaigh ih 1812, Ihe Swiss
had Io secure Ihe reIreaI oI Ihe remaihder oI Napo-
leoh's "Grahde Armee" aI Beresiha.
In the sevces f NapIen at Beesna
Frehch occupaIioh

hvasioh oI Ihe Frehch Iorces ih March 1798.

Frahce imposes a miliIary alliahce oh Ihe HelveIic
Pepublic whereby heuIraliIy has Io be abahdohed.
The fu stages f
the Fench nvasn
f SvtzeIan
(pesent bes)
December 1797
Jahuary 1798
2 March 1798
5 March 1798
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
The Swiss agaihsI Napoleoh

Swiss Iorces Iake parI ih Ihe IghI agaihsI Napoleoh's

Iroops, ihcludihg Ihe siege oI Hhihgeh. h Ihe wake
oI Ihis Ihal miliIary operaIioh oI Swiss Iorces abroad,
Ihe powers ih Paris recoghise SwiIzerlahd's perma-
hehI heuIraliIy ahd guarahIee iIs IerriIorial ihIegriIy.
Takihg ih Ihe Bourbaki Army

SIes f the Bubak Amy ae taken cae f by Svss

sIes
h Ihe Frahco-Prussiah War, SwiIzerlahd declares
iIs willihghess Io ihIerh Geheral Charles Bourbaki's
deIeaIed Frehch easIerh army (93,000 meh). SwiIzer-
lahd's credible applicaIioh oI armed heuIraliIy ahd
oIher Swiss ihiIiaIives (Iouhdihg oI Ihe Ped Cross ih
1863) leads Io widespread ihIerhaIiohal recoghiIioh
oI iIs heuIraliIy.
The Hague CohvehIiohs

SwiIzerlahd sighs Ihe Hague CohvehIiohs oh PighIs

ahd DuIies oI NeuIral SIaIes (peace cohIerehce ih
The Hague see page 11).
SwiIzerlahd durihg Ihe FirsI World War

Svss sIes n the tenches ung WI Wa I

AIIer 1915, SwiIzerlahd is compleIely surrouhded by
war. The warrihg parIies are cohvihced IhaI SwiI-
zerlahd will hoI IoleraIe ouIIahkihg mahoeuvres by
ahy oI Ihe respecIive oppohehIs Ihrough iIs Ierri-
Iory. They IhereIore respecI Swiss heuIraliIy ahd
SwiIzerlahd's borders. The Iraces oI deIehces Iheh
builI aI HauehsIeih uhd oh MohI Vully remihd us oI
how credibly heuIraliIy was pracIised durihg Ihe FirsI
World War.
EscorIs abroad

August 1919: Svss mItay esct n fnt f the Pussan

Chuch n Wasav
Armed escorIs oI Ihe Swiss Army proIecI Ihe Irahs-
porIaIioh oI goods (e.g. IexIiles) Io EasIerh Europe.
This did hoI compromise Swiss heuIraliIy as Ihe
escorIs were provided wiIh Ihe agreemehI oI all Ihe
goverhmehIs cohcerhed.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY 6
hIegral heuIraliIy
1938
The League oI NaIiohs' uhsuccessIul sahcIiohs
agaihsI Ialy cause SwiIzerlahd Io abahdoh diIIereh-
Iial heuIraliIy ih Iavour oI ihIegral heuIraliIy, IhaI is Io
also reIraih Irom imposihg ecohomic sahcIiohs.
Missiohs abroad
1953
h 1953, wiIh Ihe agreemehI oI all parIies, Swiss
observers are sehI Io Ihe DemarcaIioh Lihe ih Korea.
This eIIecIively marks Ihe begihhihg oI acIive heuIral-
iIy. Up Io Ihe presehI day, SwiIzerlahd has beeh ih-
volved ih a varieIy oI peace-keepihg missiohs abroad.
SwiIzerlahd aIIer 1945
"NeuIraliIy ahd solidariIy": Federal Couhcillor
Max PeIiIpierre coihs Ihe leiImoIiI oI Swiss Ioreigh
relaIiohs ih Ihe posI-war period. He Ihereby re-esIab-
lishes greaIer recoghiIioh oI heuIraliIy.
Thahks Io iIs recoghised diplomaIic ehgagemehI ahd
cohsisIehI posiIioh, SwiIzerlahd achieves expliciI
recoghiIioh oI Ihe righI oI sIaIes Io heuIraliIy ih Ihe
Helsihki Fihal AcI oI Ihe CSCE. h 1995, Ihe CSCE be-
comes Ihe OSCE which parIicipaIes ih peace-keepihg
measures - also wiIh SwiIzerlahd's supporI.
CSCE - Fihal AcI
1975
SwiIzerlahd |oihed Ihe League oI NaIiohs ahd Geheva
became Ihe seaI oI Ihe League. Swiss heuIraliIy is
recoghised. SwiIzerlahd is willihg Io supporI eco-
homic sahcIiohs imposed by Ihe League.
DiIIerehIial heuIraliIy
1920
h iIs dispaIch Ihe Federal Couhcil explaihs IhaI acces-
sioh "will be cohsidered ohly, iI SwiIzerlahd is able Io
reIaih iIs exisIihg permahehI heuIraliIy".
The Federal Decree oh SwiIzerlahd's Accessioh Io Ihe
UN, lays dowh IhaI ih Ihe evehI oI Swiss accessioh Io
Ihe UN, Ihe Federal Couhcil will give a "solemh sIaIe-
mehI expliciIly cohIrmihg IhaI SwiIzerlahd will reIaih
iIs permahehI ahd armed heuIraliIy".
h 1986, a ma|oriIy oI 75% oI Ihe Swiss people voIed
agaihsI |oihihg Ihe UN.
PeIerehdum oh SwiIzerlahd's accessioh Io Ihe UN
1986
Begihhihg oI Ihe Secohd World War
1939
AI Ihe begihhihg oI Ihe Secohd World War, Ihe
Federal Couhcil cohIrms SwiIzerlahd's heuIraliIy ahd
Ihis is recoghised by Ihe belligerehIs. SwiIzerlahd
mobilises iIs Iorces Io asserI iIs ihdepehdehce ahd
heuIraliIy.
GeneaI Gusan's sveang-n befe the FeeaI
AssembIy n 30 August 1939
()34/29
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Ecohomic sahcIiohs

GuIf Wa 1990/1991
AIIer Ihe raqi ihvasioh oI KuwaiI, Ihe UN SecuriIy
Couhcil imposed sahcIiohs oh raq. The Federal
Couhcil declared auIohomous implemehIaIioh oI
ecohomic sahcIiohs Io be compaIible wiIh heuIral-
iIy. This was agaih a diIIerehIial heuIraliIy similar Io
IhaI durihg Ihe 1920s, alIhough Ihis Ierm is ho lohger
applied. BuI SwiIzerlahd did hoI parIicipaIe ih miliIary
sahcIiohs. SubsequehIly, however, SwiIzerlahd did
adopI oIher sahcIiohs (e.g. agaihsI Libya, HaiIi ahd
Yugoslavia).
NeuIraliIy reporI

h iIs 1993 heuIraliIy reporI, Ihe Federal Couhcil seIs

ouI how iI ihIehds Io operaIe heuIraliIy uhder Ihe
chahged geo-poliIical siIuaIioh. Accordihg Io Ihe
reporI, heuIraliIy alohe cahhoI proIecI our couhIry
agaihsI hew dahgers such as Ierrorism, orgahised
crime ahd desIrucIioh oI Ihe ehvirohmehI. SwiIzer-
lahd is, IhereIore, obliged Io exIehd iIs Ioreigh ahd
securiIy policy wiIhouI compromisihg iIs heuIraliIy.
SwiIzerlahd "will exercise iIs heuIraliIy ih a way IhaI
allows iI Io Iake Ihe hecessary miliIary precauIiohs
Ior iIs owh deIehce, also wiIh respecI Io hew IhreaIs.
Depehdihg oh Ihe IhreaI, Ihis could also ehIail ihIer-
haIiohal cooperaIioh ih Ihe preparaIioh oI deIehsive
measures." (p. 89)
Boshia

Followihg Ihe war ih Yugoslavia, SwiIzerlahd allows

Ihe IrahsiI oI miliIary persohhel ahd equipmehI be-
lohgihg Io Ihe ihIerhaIiohal peace Iorce (FOP/SFOP)
bouhd Ior Boshia ahd Herzegoviha. Their missioh is
also ih SwiIzerlahd's ihIeresIs.
As a cohIribuIioh Io ihIerhaIiohal law ahd order, such
permissioh is compaIible wiIh heuIraliIy. I is sahc-
Iiohed by a UN SecuriIy Couhcil mahdaIe.
Svss Tge cmbat acaft ent!es an Amecan IFOP tans-
pt pIane ve the AIps
ParIhership Ior Peace (PIP)

PIP is a NATO ihiIiaIive lauhched ih 1994. SwiIzerlahd

has beeh parIicipaIihg ih Ihis programme sihce 1996.
PIP seeks Io ihIehsiIy securiIy policy ahd miliIary
cooperaIioh ih Europe. SwiIzerlahd's parIicipaIioh
ih PIP is compaIible wiIh heuIraliIy as Ihere is ho
requiremehI Ior NATO membership ahd ho obliga-
Iioh Io provide miliIary supporI ih Ihe evehI oI armed
cohIicI. ThereIore, Ihe Iollowihg is maihIaihed ih
SwiIzerlahd's presehIaIioh documehI oI 30 Novem-
ber 1996: "SwiIzerlahd is commiIIed Io permahehI
ahd armed heuIraliIy. I does hoI ihIehd Io abahdoh
iIs heuIraliIy. I does hoI wish Io |oih NATO."
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
SecuriIy Policy PeporI 2000

h iIs SecuriIy Policy PeporI 2000 Ihe Federal Couhcil

sIaIes:
"For Ihe IuIure iI is imporIahI IhaI heuIraliIy does hoI
become ah obsIacle Io ehsurihg our securiIy. Eveh
uhder mosI sIrihgehI applicaIioh oI heuIraliIy law, we
have cohsiderable scope which musI be used more
Ihah ih Ihe pasI ih Ihe sehse oI a parIicipaIive Ioreigh
ahd securiIy policy." (p. 34)
Foreigh Policy PeporI

Moderh IhreaIs, risks ahd dahgers call Ior greaIer

ihIerhaIiohal cooperaIioh: "For Ihis reasoh securiIy
Ihrough cooperaIioh Iorms Ihe leiImoIiI oI Ihe hew
Swiss securiIy policy. I is agaihsI Ihis backdrop IhaI
Ihe Federal Couhcil cohIihued Io pursue Ihe sIraIegy
already presehIed ih Ihe 1993 heuIraliIy reporI ahd
reaIIrmed ih Ihe SecuriIy Policy 2000 PeporI. Basic
reIehIioh oI heuIraliIy coupled wiIh Ihe cohsisIehI
use oI ahy scope oI acIioh are appropriaIe meahs Ior
makihg a useIul cohIribuIioh Io securiIy ahd peace ih
Ihe world." (p. 297)
AIIer Ihe war, ah ihIerhaIiohal peace-keepihg Iorce
was sIaIiohed ih Kosovo. Is missioh was based oh
a UN mahdaIe. SwiIzerlahd permiIIed Ihe IrahsiI oI
miliIary goods Ior KFOP ahd parIicipaIed ih KFOP
wiIh a cohIihgehI oI voluhIary miliIary persohhel
(SWSSCOY).
Humantaan a
fce peatn
(Opeatn ALBA)
ung the Ksv
va
hIegraIioh PeporI

OuoIe Irom Ihe Federal Couhcil's ihIegraIioh reporI:

"Our couhIry's membership oI Ihe Europeah Uhioh is
compaIible wiIh our heuIraliIy as lohg as Ihe EU is ho
miliIary alliahce." (p. 380)
()34/29
Kosovo

Durihg Ihe Kosovo crisis, SwiIzerlahd re|ecIed NATO

requesIs Ior miliIary overIighIs ahd Ihe IrahsiI oI
miliIary goods Ihrough iIs IerriIory. As NATO's mili-
Iary operaIioh Iook place wiIhouI a UN mahdaIe, Ihe
law oI heuIraliIy had Io be observed. Like Ihe oIher
heuIral Europeah sIaIes, SwiIzerlahd also adopIed Ihe
hoh-miliIary sahcIiohs oI Ihe UN ahd Ihe EU agaihsI
Yugoslavia. These sahcIiohs do hoI violaIe Ihe law oI
heuIraliIy. AI Ihe same Iime, SwiIzerlahd provided
humahiIariah supporI ih areas oI Iehsioh. The Swiss
Air Force IrahsporIed reIugees, wouhded ahd relieI
goods ih Albahia (OperaIioh ALBA) oh behalI oI Ihe
UNHCP ahd Ihe Swiss disasIer relieI corps.
ParIial revisioh oI Ihe Swiss MiliIary AcI

Oh 1 SepIember oI Ihe same year, Ihe parIial revisioh

oI Ihe MiliIary AcI accepIed by plebisciIe ehIers ihIo
Iorce. The revised MiliIary AcI regulaIes Swiss parIici-
paIioh ih peace supporI operaIiohs oI Ihe UN ahd Ihe
OSCE ahd provides Ihe basis Ior armihg Swiss peace
supporI Iorces abroad Ior selI-proIecIioh. SwiIzer-
lahd's ihvolvemehI is "compaIible wiIh heuIraliIy
law ahd SwiIzerlahd's policy oI heuIraliIy" (Federal
Couhcil dispaIch relaIihg Io Ihe parIial revisioh oI
Ihe Swiss MiliIary AcI, p. 485). Swiss parIicipaIioh ih
combaI operaIiohs Ior peace ehIorcemehI is, how-
ever, excluded by Ihe MiliIary AcI.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
SwiIzerlahd's accessioh Io Ihe UN

Oh 3 March, 54.6% oI Ihe Swiss people voIed Ior

SwiIzerlahd's accessioh Io Ihe UN which Iakes place
accordihgly oh 10 SepIember. SwiIzerlahd is Ihe IrsI
couhIry whose membership oI Ihe UN was decided
direcIly by iIs people. h iIs accessioh sIaIemehI
SwiIzerlahd aIIrms: "SwiIzerlahd is a heuIral sIaIe
whose sIaIus is based oh ihIerhaIiohal law. Eveh
as a member oI Ihe UN, SwiIzerlahd remaihs heu-
Iral." SwiIzerlahd is called upoh Io parIicipaIe ih UN
ecohomic sahcIiohs ahd may hoI obsIrucI miliIary
sahcIiohs decided by Ihe UN SecuriIy Couhcil. SwiI-
zerlahd is Iree Io decide wheIher ahd Io whaI exIehI
iI wahIs Io provide Ihe UN wiIh resources ahd Iorces
Ior respecIive humahiIariah ahd miliIary operaIiohs.
SwiIzerlahd ahd Ihe UN pursue Ihe same ob|ecIive:
Io promoIe ahd guarahIee peace ahd securiIy ih Ihe
world. I is IhereIore ih our couhIry's ihIeresIs Io sup-
porI Ihe UN Ihrough iIs policy oI acIive heuIraliIy ahd
pracIical solidariIy.
AIIacks ih Ihe USA

"AchievemehIs ahd values such as peace, liberal

socieIy ahd Iolerahce have suIIered a severe seIback
due Io Ihis gigahIic acI oI haIe. NeverIheless, Ihese
are values we cohIihue Io believe ih." Federal Presi-
dehI MoriIz Leuehberger's words reIer Io Ihe IerrorisI
aIIack oh America oI 11 SepIember 2001.
Oh 13 February 2002, Ihe Federal Couhcil ih iIs re-
spohse Io a moIioh Irom Ihe NaIiohal Couhcil placed
Ihe evehI ih a securiIy policy cohIexI: "The validiIy oI
Ihe basic prihciple oI Swiss securiIy policy, securiIy
Ihrough cooperaIioh wiIh Iull regard Io permahehI
ahd armed heuIraliIy, has beeh cohIrmed by Ihese
evehIs (....): Terrorism especially is a phehomehoh
IhaI ighores haIiohal borders ahd ohe IhaI we cah
ohly hope Io cohquer Ihrough ihIerhaIiohal coopera-
Iioh."
Nev Yk afte the attacks: Gun Ze
War ih raq

The war cohducIed by a coaliIioh led by Ihe USA

agaihsI Ihe Saddam Husseih regime was hoI based
oh a UN mahdaIe. ThereIore, Ihe classic Iorm oI Ihe
law oI heuIraliIy was applicable Ior SwiIzerlahd. The
Federal Couhcil cohsequehIly prohibiIed overIighIs
across Swiss IerriIory wiIh Ihe excepIioh oI humahi-
Iariah ahd medical evacuaIioh IighIs. FurIhermore,
Ihe Federal Couhcil made Ihe exporI oI war maIerial
Io Ihe warrihg parIies sub|ecI Io ah auIhorisaIioh
requiremehI.
Wheh Ihe war was over, Ihe law oI heuIraliIy was ho
lohger applicable. The measures Iakeh durihg Ihe
cohIicI were subsequehIly liIIed.
Saam Hussen afte hs aest
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Armed heuIraliIy ahd ihdepehdehce
4(%,!7/&.%542!,)49
The law of neutrality forms part of international law. The essential rights and duties of a
neutral state are laid down in the Hague Conventions of 1907.
At national level, neutrality is cited in the Federal Constitution as an instrument for safe-
guarding independence.
1647: Fst tabIe Istng
authse stengths f unts
assgne t safeguang
neutaIty
WiI 1647 ] Munster 1648:
hIuehced by Ihe ThirIy Years' War, Ihe Cohgrega-
Iioh oI Wil decides Io creaIe a |oihI Iederal army Io
saIeguard Swiss heuIraliIy.
h 1648, Johahh PudolI WeIIsIeih (mayor oI Basel)
achieves recoghiIioh abroad oI SwiIzerlahd's ihde-
pehdehce ih Ihe WesIphaliah Iowh oI MuhsIer.
NeuIraliIy receives ihIerhaIiohal recoghiIioh
1815: Pepesentatves f the maj pves eav the pItcaI
map f Eupe
Vienna and Paris in 1815: neutraIity is recognised
under internationaI Iaw.
h Ihe Paris AgreemehI oI 20 November 1815, Ihe ma-
|or Europeah powers recoghise SwiIzerlahd's perma-
hehI heuIraliIy ahd guarahIee iIs IerriIorial ihIegriIy.
Federal CohsIiIuIioh: heuIraliIy as ah ihsIrumehI
Phtgaph f the
FeeaI Cnsttutn f 1848
Bern in 1848: NeutraIity is not an end in itseIf.
For Ihe auIhors oI Ihe Federal CohsIiIuIioh, heuIraliIy
is simply a meahs oI saIeguardihg ihdepehdehce. I
was IhereIore hoI ihcluded ih Ihe cohsIiIuIioh's arIicle
oI purpose (arIicle 2). However, Ihe Federal Couhcil
ahd Federal Assembly musI mohiIor compliahce wiIh
ahd observahce oI heuIraliIy.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
The law oI heuIraliIy is laid dowh
The Hague in 1907: The Hague Conventions.
The righIs ahd duIies oI heuIral sIaIes ih warIime are
laid dowh Ior Ihe IrsI Iime ih wriIihg ih The Hague
CohvehIiohs oI 18 OcIober 1907.
The mosI imporIahI obligaIiohs are:
Noh-parIicipaIioh ih war
SelI-deIehce
mparIialiIy Iowards belligerehIs
(cohcerhs Ihe exporI oI war maIerial)
No merceharies Ior belligerehIs
Dehial oI IerriIory Io belligerehIs

The mosI imporIahI righI is IhaI oI IerriIorial ihviola-
biliIy.
The law oI heuIraliIy oI 1907 sIill applies. The siIua-
Iioh Ioday, however, is characIerised maihly by ihIer-
hal cohIicIs. The law oI heuIraliIy is hoI applicable Io
Ihese cases.
The Pussan Cza NchIas II
gave the !st mpetus f
The Hague Cnfeences
Swiss heuIraliIy as a model
Vienna in 1955: SwitzerIand as exampIe.
As a prerequisiIe Ior Ihe SIaIe TreaIy, AusIria de-
clares iIs willihghess Io exercise permahehI heuIraliIy
as pracIised by SwiIzerlahd.
1955: The pepIe f Venna ceIebate the
State Teaty
New Federal CohsIiIuIioh
Bern in 1999: NeutraIity and revision of the Constitu-
tion.
NeuIraliIy remaihs uhaIIecIed by Ihe amehdmehI oI
Ihe Federal CohsIiIuIioh decided by Ihe people. As
beIore, Ihe Federal Couhcil ahd Federal Assembly are
respohsible Ior saIeguardihg heuIraliIy (arIicles 173
ahd 185).
The FeeaI Cnsttutn s
amene n PaIament
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
4(%,!7/&.%542!,)49
What forms of security policy involvement are compatible with the law of neutrality?
The law provides neutral states with a good deal of scope in peacetime. Measures aimed at
peace promotion give no cause for concern and military cooperation with foreign partners
is possible.
The limit of what is legally permissible is exceeded when the neutral state undertakes to
provide assistance for another in the event of war.
Summary of security poIicy activities
Economic sanctions
mplemehIaIioh oI eco-
homic sahcIiohs imposed
by Ihe UN
ParIicipaIioh ih ecohomic
sahcIiohs imposed by
oIher ihIerhaIiohal acIors
(e.g. EU)
Assessment according to the Iaw of neutraIity
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy iI Ihe sahcIiohs have beeh
decided by Ihe UN SecuriIy Couhcil.
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy because ecohomic sahc-
Iiohs are hoI covered by Ihe law oI heuIraliIy (excep-
Iioh: war maIerial).
GrahIihg oI IrahsiI righIs
Ior peace-supporI opera-
Iiohs
ParIicipaIioh ih peace-
supporI operaIiohs
ParIicipaIioh ih peace
ehIorcemehI operaIiohs
wiIh miliIary meahs
Peace support Assessment according to the Iaw of neutraIity
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy iI operaIiohs are based oh
a mahdaIe oI Ihe UN SecuriIy Couhcil or are carried
ouI wiIh Ihe cohsehI oI Ihe cohIicIihg parIies.
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy iI operaIiohs are based oh
a mahdaIe oI Ihe UN SecuriIy Couhcil or are carried
ouI wiIh Ihe cohsehI oI Ihe cohIicIihg parIies.
Accordihg Io Ihe heuIraliIy reporI oI Ihe Federal
Couhcil, Ihis is compaIible wiIh heuIraliIy iI Ihe
operaIioh is carried ouI oh Ihe basis oI a mahdaIe oI
Ihe UN SecuriIy Couhcil ahd Ihe ihIerhaIiohal com-
muhiIy acIs almosI uhahimously agaihsI Ihe law-
breaker. The MiliIary AcI, however, rules ouI parIici-
paIioh ih peace-ehIorcemehI combaI operaIiohs.
InternationaI cooperation Assessment according to the Iaw of neutraIity
Traihihg cooperaIioh wiIh
Ioreigh parIhers
ArmamehI cooperaIioh
wiIh Ioreigh parIhers
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy as lohg as ho assisIahce
obligaIioh is ehIailed ih Ihe evehI oI war.
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy as lohg as ho assisIahce
obligaIioh is ehIailed ih Ihe evehI oI war. h Ihe evehI
oI war, Ihe law oI heuIraliIy requires IhaI belligerehIs
are IreaIed equally.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Participation in internationaI programmes or
membership of internationaI organisations
ParIicipaIioh ih Ihe
ParIhership Ior Peace
programme / member-
ship oI Ihe Euro-AIlahIic
ParIhership Couhcil
Membership oI ihIerha-
Iiohal orgahisaIiohs such
as Ihe OSCE, Ihe Couhcil
oI Europe
Membership oI Ihe
UhiIed NaIiohs (UN)
Assessment according to the Iaw of neutraIity
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy because Ihe PIP parIher-
ship ehIails heiIher NATO membership hor ah assis-
Iahce obligaIioh.
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy because Ihere is ho assis-
Iahce obligaIioh ih Ihe evehI oI war.
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy because ho obligaIioh
is ehIered ihIo Io acI cohIrary Io Ihe provisiohs oI
heuIraliIy.
Europeah Uhioh (EU)
membership
NATO membership
CompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy as lohg as Ihe EU has ho
bihdihg muIual miliIary assisIahce obligaIioh Ior all
members.
hcompaIible wiIh heuIraliIy because NATO member-
ship ihcludes Ihe obligaIioh Io provide muIual assis-
Iahce ih Ihe evehI oI war.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
3)45!4)/.
The world is changing. Our policy of neutrality changes with it. New situations call for
new answers. In every age, neutrality had its specic signicance.
The following maps reveal how the power situation around Switzerland has changed.

1815: The map of Europe was redrawn at the Congress of
Vienna. SvtzeIan Ies at the cente f the maj pves' !eI
f tensn. These ecgnse SvtzeIan's pemanent neutaIty.

1914: Europe on the eve of the First WorId War.

SvtzeIan Ies n the etene Ine f cn!ct betveen Fance
an Gemany.

1941: Europe prior to the German attack on the Soviet Union.

SvtzeIan s suune by the tetes mnate by
Gemany an ItaIy.

1956: The CoId War. StategcaIIy speakng, Eupe fms the

zne f cn!ct betveen tv eIgcaIIy ppse aIIances:
the mItay aIIances f NATO an the Wasav Pact. SvtzeIan
emans cmmtte t autnmus natnaI efence.

F
E
F
erao
6ooIederatioo
ttoao
Epire
k
NL
k
8ussia
8
N
F
r
u
s
s
i
a
Austria
6h
F
E
F
erao
Epire
k
NL
k
8ussia
8
N
Austria-
huogary
6h

L
I
Moote-
oegro
uIgaria
8o
aoia
8
e
r
b
i
a
F
E
F
reater
erao
Epire
k
NL
k
888
8
N
6h

L
I
uIgaria
8oaoia
huogary
8Iovakia
FIN
I8

F
E
F
k
NL
k
888
8
N
6h

L
I
uIgaria
8oaoia
huogary
FIN
I8
A
F8
8
FoIaod

u
g
o
s
I
a
v
i
a
6aoada, 8A
Georgien
Armenien
Aserbaidschan
Turkmenistan
Kasachstan
Usbekistan

6aoada, 8A
F
E
F
k
NL
k
8
N
6h

L
uIgaria
8oaoia
huogary
FIN
I8
A
FoIaod
I
8ussia
(Fussian
Federation)
Estooia
Latvia
Lithuaoia
eIarus
kraioe
MoIdova
8Iovakia
6tech 8ep.
6roatia
osoia
8
e
rb
ia
a
o
d

M
o
o
te
o
e
g
ro
Mac.
8Iov.
eraoy
A
I
b
a
o
i
a
NATO
couhIries
Warsaw
PacI
NeuIral ahd
hoh-alighed
sIaIes

2004: Undivided Europe. The EU an NATO ensue that Eupe

jns tgethe. Demcacy an the uIe f Iav ae gan gun.
SvtzeIan cmmts tseIf t pmtng peace.
NATO
couhIries
NeuIral ahd hoh-
alighed sIaIes
OIhers
6888
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
NeutraI and non-aIigned states in Europe
Apart from Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Austria are regarded as neutral or
non-aligned states. A comparison of the models:
Basic data Form of neutraIity Membership PossibIe
deveIopment
Participation in
internationaI
operations
(status: mid-2004)
NeuIral sihce
1855,
Peasoh: hegaIive
experiehce wiIh
Iormer Swedish
power poliIics.
Swedeh sees
iIselI as hoh-
alighed.
Europeah Uhioh
(EU), parIici-
paIioh ih PIP,
OSCE, UN, Couh-
cil oI Europe.
NATO member-
ship hoI Io be
expecIed ih Ihe
hear IuIure.
Some 1,000 per-
sohs (ihcludihg
Kosovo, Cohgo,
Middle EasI,
AIghahisIah,
EriIrea/EIhiopia).
NeuIral sihce
1955,
Peasoh: geo-
poliIical siIua-
Iioh.
Sihce 1995,
Fihlahd regards
iIselI as hoh-
alighed. I places
greaI value oh
iIs auIohomous
deIehsive capa-
biliIy.
Europeah Uhioh
(EU), parIici-
paIioh ih PIP,
OSCE, UN, Couh-
cil oI Europe.
NATO member-
ship hoI Io be
expecIed ih Ihe
hear IuIure.
Some 1,000 per-
sohs (ihcludihg
Kosovo, EriIrea/
EIhiopia,
AIghahisIah,
Middle EasI).
NeuIral sihce
1955,
Peasoh: SIaIe
TreaIy.
NeuIraliIy
accordihg Io Ihe
Swiss model.
UhdersIood as
hoh-alighed
sihce 2001.
Europeah Uhioh
(EU), parIici-
paIioh ih PIP,
OSCE, UN, Couh-
cil oI Europe.
NATO member-
ship is coh-
ceivable ih Ihe
medium Ierm.
Some 1,000 per-
sohs (ihcludihg
Kosovo, Middle
EasI, Boshia-
Herzegoviha,
Cyprus).
NeuIral sihce
1938,
Peasoh: To puI
disIahce be-
Iweeh iIselI ahd
iIs heighbour.
SelI-deIermihed
heuIraliIy also
serves Io maih-
Iaih maximum
scope oI acIioh.
Europeah Uhioh
(EU), parIici-
paIioh ih PIP,
OSCE, UN, Couh-
cil oI Europe.
NoI likely Io seek
NATO member-
ship eveh ih lohg
Ierm.
Some 800 per-
sohs (ihcludihg
Liberia, Kosovo,
Boshia-Herze-
goviha,
Middle EasI,
AIghahisIah).
NeuIral sihce
1516, recoghised
uhder ihIerha-
Iiohal law sihce
1815,
Peasoh: Ioreigh
policy ihsIru-
mehI oI a small
sIaIe, haIiohal
cohesioh.
SelI-deIermihed
permahehI ahd
armed heuIraliIy.
EFTA, parIici-
paIioh ih PIP,
OSCE, UN, Couh-
cil oI Europe.
SwiIzerlahd does
hoI seek NATO
membership.
Some 250 per-
sohs (ihcludihg
Kosovo, NorIh
ahd SouIh Korea,
AIghahisIah,
Georgia,
Middle EasI).
Country
Sweden
FinIand
Austria
IreIand
SwitzerIand
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
3)45!4)/.
Changing forms of conict during the 20
th
century:
Until the beginning of this century, war was considered to be a legitimate means of pursu-
ing national interests. With the founding of the League of Nations and the United Nations
(UN), war was outlawed.
Today, many conicts are no longer between states, but primarily occur within them. The
law of neutrality is not applicable in such cases. However, the situation may constantly
change with the emergence and disappearance of states. Furthermore, conicts are becom-
ing increasingly complex and unpredictable through the participation of both non-state and
state actors with a background of extremism, terrorism or organised crime and through the
collapse of state power. Asymmetrical forms of power are often predominant.
Europe
Albahia
Armenia-Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina-
former YugosIavia
Croatia-Serbia
Cyprus
Georgia
Macedohia
Moldavia
Pussiah CohIederaIioh
Serbia-NATO (Kosovo)
Spaih (Basque Provihces)
Turkey
UhiIed Kihgdom (NorIherh
relahd)
The most important conicts from 1995 to 2003
The Iollowihg lisI shows examples oI cohIicI siIuaIiohs IhroughouI Ihe world. The maih cohIicIs beIweeh
sIaIes are marked ih boId.
Asia
AIghahisIah
Bahgladesh
Cambodia
Chiha
EasI Timor
hdia
India-Pakistan
hdohesia
Iraq-USA
IsraeI-Lebanon
srael (PalesIihe)
Laos
Lebahoh
Myahmar
Nepal
America
Colombia
Ecuador-Peru
GuaIemala
HaiIi
Mexico
Peru
Vehezuela
AIrica
Algeria
Ahgola
Buruhdi
CehIral AIricah
Pepublic
Chad
Comoros
Cohgo Brazzaville
DP Cohgo
EgypI
Ethiopia-Eritrea
Guihea-Bissau
vory CoasI
Liberia
Madagascar
Morocco
Mozambique
Nigeria
Puihed
Sehegal
Sierra Leohe
Somalia
Sudah
Ugahda
North Korea-South Korea
Papua New Guihea
The Philippihes
The Solomoh slahds
Sri Lahka
Ta|ikisIah
UzbekisIah
Yemeh
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Organisations for resoIving conicts
Since the Second World War, various organisations and cooperation forums have been set
up, which as far as possible, help to prevent conicts and secure peace. Some neutral states
are also represented in these organisations and play an active role in resolving conicts.
UN
The UN is Ihe uhiversal associaIioh
oI sIaIes Ior saIeguardihg world
peace.
The UN SecuriIy Couhcil carries Ihe
maih respohsibiliIy Ior ehsurihg
peace ahd securiIy. Based oh Ihe
UN CharIer, iI decides oh measures
Ior resolvihg crises.
These ihclude measures carried ouI
wiIh Ihe agreemehI oI Ihe cohIicI-
ihg parIies buI also coercive eco-
homic ahd miliIary measures.
OSCE
The OrgahisaIioh Ior SecuriIy ahd
CooperaIioh ih Europe seeks Io
promoIe securiIy ahd peace, hu-
mah righIs ahd democracy as well
as cooperaIioh ih Europe Ihrough
prevehIive diplomacy. I is Ihe ohly
orgahisaIioh Io which all Euro-
peah couhIries belohg. The OSCE
promoIes peace parIicularly Ihrough
missiohs Io areas oI crisis ahd by
cohducIihg ahd supervisihg elec-
Iiohs.
NATO
This deIehce alliahce cohsisIs oI
26 Europeah ahd NorIh Ameri-
cah sIaIes. NATO has reIaihed iIs
origihal key Iask oI deIehdihg iIs
member sIaIes agaihsI miliIary
aIIack. I is also prepared Io up-
hold or ehIorce peace wiIh miliIary
meahs beyohd Ihe IerriIory oI Ihe
Alliahce.
PfP ] EAPC
NATO lauhched Ihe ParIhership
Ior Peace (PIP) programme ih 1994
ih order Io IosIer peace Ihrough
greaIer cooperaIioh wiIh hoh-
NATO couhIries. h addiIioh Io Ihe
26 NATO member sIaIes, 20 oIher
Europeah sIaIes (ihcludihg SwiI-
zerlahd) parIicipaIe. They are all
members oI Ihe Euro-AIlahIic ParI-
hership Couhcil (EAPC) Iouhded ih
1997, which acIs as a securiIy policy
Iorum.
EU
The Europeah Uhioh (EU) was
Iouhded as ah ecohomic orgahisa-
Iioh, buI cohIribuIed cohsiderably
Io ehsurihg Ihe uhdersIahdihg ahd
peace oI iIs 25 member sIaIes. The
EU seeks Io esIablish a commoh
Ioreigh ahd securiIy policy.
CounciI of Europe
The Couhcil oI Europe is ah orga-
hisaIioh oI 45 Europeah sIaIes Io
which SwiIzerlahd also belohgs.
Is maih Iasks are: Io proIecI humah
righIs, Ihe rule oI law ahd democ-
racy.
Sessn f the UN Secuty CuncI
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Considerations
Situation ] environment
Swit/e|lorJ wos oceJ wit| siaultoreuusl] |o.ir tu u|euo|e its aili
to|] Jeerces orJ ersu|e its ecuruaic su|.i.ol. |u| t|e ue|iuJ |etweer
19+J orJ 19++, t|e cuurt|] wos su||uurJeJ |] te||itu|] JuairoteJ |]
t|e Be|lir-Ruae oris.
The Iaw of neutraIity
T|e reut|ol stote |os t|e |i|t tu te||itu|iol ir.iulo|ilit] orJ, ot t|e
soae tiae, is u|lieJ tu soeuo|J its te||itu|iol irte|it].
History
lr 19J9, Swit/e|lorJ u|aoll] Jeclo|eJ its reut|olit] ir occu|Jorce wit|
t|e |oue Cur.ertiurs. T|is Jeclo|eJ reut|olit] wos lo|el] |esuecteJ
|] t|e |ellie|erts.
Tradition
Tu t|e leoJe|s u t|e ere|otiur u 19J9, reut|olit] seeaeJ tu |e t|e
cu|e|ert curtiruotiur u t|e uulic] u t|e |i|st wu|lJ wo| orJ u t|e
||orcu||ussior wo| u 1c/Jl/1.
WorId War II
T|e |eotest wo| ur eo|t| tu Jote ea||uileJ twu u Swit/e|lorJ's
rei||uu|s ir 19J9 orJ ,wit| t|e erceutiur u |iec|tersteir oll u t|ea
|] 19+J. T|e uue|otiur ulors we |ruw u tuJo] er.isoeJ Ce|aor]
cur(ue|ir Swit/e|lorJ.
1991 GuIf War
lr 199J, l|o( ir.oJeJ Kuwoit. T|e ul Secu|it] Cuurcil iauuseJ
ecuruaic sorctiurs orJ out|u|iseJ or irte|rotiurol cuolitiur leJ |] t|e
uriteJ Stotes tu to|e cue|ci.e ailito|] octiur ooirst l|o(. |i|st, SouJi
/|o|io's Jeerces we|e |eiru|ceJ orJ Kuwoit wos li|e|oteJ ir 1991.
Considerations
Situation ] environment
Swit/e|lorJ wos colleJ ur tu oJuut t|e ul's ecuruaic sorctiurs
ooirst l|o(.
T|e |e(uest wos olsu aoJe tu |ort u.e|i|t |i|ts tu t|e uSleJ
cuolitiur u|ces.
The Iaw of neutraIity
lr te|as u reut|olit] low, t|e|e is rut|ir tu u|e.ert o cuurt|] |ua
uo|ticiuotir ir ecuruaic sorctiurs. T|e soae is olsu t|ue ot leost ir
te|as u u.e|i|t |i|ts u| |uaorito|ior uu|uuses. /t t|e soae tiae,
t|e |eJe|ol Cuurcil u|Je|s or irJeut| eroairotiur u t|e cuauoti|ilit]
u reut|olit] low wit| t|e oJuutiur u ul ailito|] sorctiurs.
History
lr t|e 19ZJs Swit/e|lorJ ol|eoJ] u|octiseJ "Jie|ertiol reut|olit]'.
/lt|uu| it juireJ ir ecuruaic sorctiurs t|er, it JiJ rut uo|ticiuote ir
u|t|e| aeosu|es u t|e |eoue u lotiurs.
Tradition
T|oJitiuroll], Swit/e|lorJ |os suu|t tu st|ert|er irte|rotiurol low
orJ u|uaute secu|it] orJ ueoce.
Decisions
AppIied poIicy of neutraIity
Tu ao|e its reut|olit] c|eJi|le, Swit/e|lorJ au|iliseJ uu tu +5J,JJJ
aer orJ wuaer u| rotiurol se|.ice. lt wos t|us aoJe ue|ectl] cleo|
t|ot t|e|e wuulJ |e o Jeo| u|ice tu uo] u| or]ure wis|ir tu erte|
t|e cuurt|] |] u|ce. lr |et|usuect, Swit/e|lorJ's |euee uulic] s|uulJ
|o.e |eer au|e ere|uus.
Decisions
AppIied poIicy of neutraIity
Swit/e|lorJ oJuuteJ ecuruaic sorctiurs ooirst l|o(. |e|aissiur u|
u.e|i|ts wos rut |orteJ tu |te| u|aotiurs. T|e cuolitiur, |uw
e.e|, wos olluweJ tu ] u.e| Swit/e|lorJ ur |uaorito|ior aissiurs.
0/,)#9/&.%542!,)49
Political tact is called for:
The Federal Council applies the law of neutrality and takes into account neutrality policy
considerations in reaching its decisions. Decision-making always requires an assessment of
the current situation.
The following four case studies aim to briey illustrate what considerations led to what
decisions.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Considerations
Situation ] environment
|u| Swit/e|lorJ, t|e |uaor |i|ts .iulotiurs ir Kusu.u o|e urocceut
o|le. lt aust |ec|ur wit| |ecuair t|e aoir cuurt|] u c|uice u|
|euees see|ir os]lua. Swit/e|lorJ |os o |eot irte|est ir |uaore
curJitiurs |eir esto|lis|eJ ir Kusu.u su t|ot |euees o|e o|le tu
|etu|r tu t|ei| cuurt|].
The Iaw of neutraIity
C|ortir t|orsit |i|ts u| cua|ot uue|otiurs wos uut u t|e (ues
tiur |ecouse l/T0 |oJ ru erulicit ul aorJote u| suc| octi.ities.
But t|e|e wos ru |eosur w|] Swit/e|lorJ s|uulJ rut uo|ticiuote ir
|uaorito|ior uue|otiurs orJ irte|rotiurol ecuruaic sorctiurs. /te|
t|e wo|, t|orsit |i|ts cuulJ |e |orteJ |ecouse t|e Jeulu]aert u t|e
K|0R ueoce|eeuir u|ce wos |oseJ ur o ul aorJote orJ |oJ |eer
ouu|u.eJ |] Yuuslo.io. Swiss uo|ticiuotiur ir K|0R wos t|e|eu|e
cuauoti|le wit| reut|olit].
History
Swit/e|lorJ's ir.ul.eaert ir orJ o|uurJ Kusu.u is ir lire wit| its
u|e.iuus uulic]. Swit/e|lorJ is ulllir its reut|olit] u|liotiurs orJ
ao|ir use u its scuue tu u|octise octi.e suliJo|it].
Tradition
leut|olit] |os re.e| u|e.erteJ Swit/e|lorJ |ua .iu|uusl] oJ.ucotir
|esuect u| |uaor |i|ts.
1999 Kosovo War
lr su|ir 1999, t|e curict |etweer Se||s orJ /l|oriors ir Kusu.u
escoloteJ. |urJ|eJs u t|uusorJs we|e u|ceJ tu ee, u|iao|il]
Kusu.u/l|oriors. Mossoc|es ersueJ. l/T0 irte|.ereJ wit|uut o ul
Secu|it] Cuurcil aorJote ir u|Je| tu erJ t|e |uaor |i|ts .iulotiurs |]
u|ce. /t t|e erJ u Mo], o uuliticol o|eeaert wos oc|ie.eJ. Kusu.u
u|aoll] |eaoireJ o uo|t u Yuuslo.io. Reuees |etu|reJ |uae. urJe|
ul aorJote, t|e K|0R irte|rotiurol ueoce|eeuir u|ce is stotiureJ
ir Kusu.u.
Decisions
AppIied poIicy of neutraIity
Swit/e|lorJ is ir.ul.eJ ir t|e |uaorito|ior iritioti.e, "|0CuS', ir
Yuuslo.io orJ u|u.iJes |uaorito|ior ossistorce tu |euees ir
/l|orio ,"/|B/' orJ MoceJurio. T|e |eJe|ol Cuurcil |euseJ tu i.e
l/T0 t|orsit |i|ts u| cua|ot uue|otiurs. lt suuuu|teJ t|e rurailito|]
sorctiurs ooirst Yuuslo.io. /te| o ul Secu|it] Cuurcil aorJote
wos uosseJ, Swit/e|lorJ tuu| uo|t ir K|0R orJ |orteJ t|orsit |i|ts.
Considerations
Situation ] environment
lr |is sueec| tu t|e |eJe|ol /ssea|l], |eJe|ol ||esiJert |oscol
Cuuc|euir u|se|.es. "luure cor Jer] t|ot t|e l|o(i leoJe|s|iu .e|]
auc| |os itsel tu |loae u| t|e wo| ir its cuurt|].' |e is t|e|e|] |ee|
|ir tu t|e l|o(i |eiae's |eueoteJ orJ se.e|e ||eoc|es u irte|rotiurol
low orJ |uaor |i|ts .iulotiurs.
The Iaw of neutraIity
T|e cuolitiur leJ |] t|e uS lourc|es its ottoc| ooirst l|o( wit|uut o
ul aorJote. Swit/e|lorJ t|e|eu|e |os ru ut|e| uutiur |ut tu cursis
tertl] ouul] reut|olit]. |uwe.e|, t|e ||esiJert u t|e CureJe|otiur
olsu uuirts uut t|ot reut|olit] orJ suliJo|it] o|e irJi.isi|le. "l o|aeJ
curicts |etweer stotes o|e iaairert u| ||eo| uut, Swit/e|lorJ is rut
u|lieJ tu juir ir. lr occu|Jorce wit| its selue|ceutiur, Swit/e|lorJ
aust Ju oll it cor tu u|e.ert t|e uut||eo| u |ustilities, tu u|utect
.ictias, tu |elu |eesto|lis| ueoce orJ tu |t t|e couses u .iulerce.'
History
T|e st|ur eau|osis ur t|e ul os o suu|ce u leitiaoc] urJe| irte|ro
tiurol low cu||esuurJs wit| Swit/e|lorJ's uciol |otiurole Je.eluueJ
wit| t|e Ku|eo aissiur ir 195J orJ w|ic| wos cursuliJoteJ Ju|ir t|e
199Js orJ wit| Swit/e|lorJ's occessiur tu t|e uriteJ lotiurs.
Tradition
leut|olit] |] ru aeors ertoils |eruurcir |eeJua u sueec|. T|e
||esiJert u t|e CureJe|otiur wos cleo|l] urJe|lirir t|e ||utolit] u
SoJJoa |usseir's |eiae. "lr 19cc, |e c|us|eJ or uu|isir u Ku|Jis|
elluw citi/ers orJ osseJ t|uusorJs.'
2003 War in Iraq
lr Mo|c| ZJJJ, o cuolitiur u|ce leJ |] t|e uS lourc|es or ottoc|
ooirst l|o(. 0r 19 Mo|c| ZJJJ t|e uS ||esiJert, Ceu|e w. Bus|,
Jeclo|es. "T|e ueuule u t|e uriteJ Stotes orJ uu| |ierJs orJ ollies
Ju rut irterJ tu |uw tu o urjust |eiae t|ot t||eoters t|e ueoce wit|
weouurs u aoss Jest|uctiur.' |u|t|e| |eosurs stoteJ u| t|e ottoc|
o|e t|ot t|e l|o(i |eiae suuuu|ts te||u|isa orJ t|ot o li|e|oteJ l|o(
wuulJ u|uaute Jeauc|oc] ir t|e MiJJle Eost. T|e cuolitiur uccuuieJ
t|e cuurt|] orJ tuu| SoJJoa |usseir u|isure|, t|e situotiur |eaoirs
ursto|le orJ is c|o|octe|iseJ |] .iulerce.
Decisions
AppIied poIicy of neutraIity
Swit/e|lorJ iaaeJiotel] uurJeJ t|e |nusritsrisr |::nc: urcnp |rs
tu u|u.iJe or irte|rotiurol u|ua u| |uaorito|ior issues. lt issueJ
u.e|i|t ue|aits u| |uaorito|ior orJ aeJicol e.ocuotiur i|ts url].
|u|t|e|au|e, t|e |eJe|ol Cuurcil aoJe o|as eruu|ts tu t|e cuurt|ies
curJuctir t|e wo| su|ject tu t|e low u reut|olit] ,see uoe 11.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
.%542!,)4935--!29
I fear that a fair neutrality will prove to be a bitter pill for our friends, though necessary
to keep us from the calamities of war.
Thmas Jeffesn (1743-1826), 3

Pesent f the Unte States f Ameca

SlVlN llY lOlN1S
1
Instrument
NeuIraliIy is a successIul ihsIrumehI oI Swiss
Ioreigh ahd securiIy policy. I has proved iIs
worIh ih Iwo world wars.
2
Backing
NeuIraliIy eh|oys greaI supporI amohg Ihe
populaIioh. Over Ihe cehIuries iI has made a
sighiIcahI cohIribuIioh Io keepihg Ihe couhIry
IogeIher. NeuIraliIy is parI oI Ihe IradiIioh, his-
Iory ahd selI-percepIioh oI our couhIry ahd iIs
ciIizehs.
3
Security
NeuIraliIy repeaIedly has Io be broughI ih lihe
wiIh Ihe chahgihg securiIy policy siIuaIioh.
Abahdohihg heuIraliIy would ohly be ah issue
iI Ihe beheII oI a hew Iorm oI securiIy were
greaIer Ihah Ihe loss oI Ihe old.
1
Limits
hIerhaIiohal law lays dowh clear limiIs Ior a
policy oI heuIraliIy. Accessioh Io a miliIary
alliahce is impossible.
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY

Scope
For mahy geheraIiohs, heuIraliIy has provided a
good deal oI scope. Sihce 1953 Ior our ihvolve-
mehI ih Korea, Ior example. Or Ior parIicipa-
Iioh ih ihIerhaIiohal ecohomic sahcIiohs. Or
Ior parIicipaIioh ih Ihe ParIhership Ior Peace
programme. Or Ior Ihe armihg oI soldiers Ior
selI-deIehce abroad. Or as a UN member.

Consequences
Ohe oI Ihe cohsequehces oI heuIraliIy is Iore-
goihg deIehce ih ah alliahce. Oh Ihe oIher hahd,
Ihis prevehIs our couhIry Irom beihg drawh ihIo
Ioreigh cohIicIs.

Appropriate to the situation

NeuIraliIy is pracIised acIively, wiIh solidariIy
ahd ih a mahher appropriaIe Io Ihe siIuaIioh. h
IhaI way iI is uhdersIood ahd respecIed.


h
a
r
r
o
w
























S
c
o
p
e






















w
i
d
e
Time axis
A heuIral sIaIe's room Ior mahoeuvre has
chahged repeaIedly durihg Ihe 20
Ih
cehIury.
New siIuaIiohs call Ior hew ahswers.
1919
1938
2003
1999
1995
1990
1953
1920
/|aeJ Swiss
/|a] escu|ts
u|utect t|e
t|orsuu|t
u uuJs
t||uu| eost
e|r Eu|uue.
0ie|ertiol
reut|olit].
Swit/e|lorJ
juirs t|e
|eoue u
lotiurs.
ursuccessul
sorctiurs |]
t|e |eoue
u lotiurs
ooirst
ltol] couse
Swit/e|lorJ
tu |etu|r
tu o uulic]
u irte|ol
reut|olit].
wu|lJ wo| ll.
T|e |eJe|ol
Cuurcil
o|as
Swit/e|lorJ's
reut|olit] orJ
au|ilises t|e
o|aeJ u|ces.
wo| ir l|o(.
lu ul aor
Jote. |ow
u reut|olit]
ouulico|le.
Swit/e|lorJ
juirs ir
ecuruaic
sorctiurs
ooirst l|o(
orJ u|u.iJes
|uaorito|ior
ossistorce
u| t|e c|isis
|eiur.
Swit/e|lorJ
serJs ailito|]
u|se|.e|s tu
t|e Jeao|co
tiur lire ir
Ku|eo.
Swit/e|lorJ
au.es owo]
|ua its uulic]
u irte|ol
reut|ol
it]. lt juirs
ir ecuruaic
sorctiurs
ooirst l|o(.
wo| ir
Busrio.
Swit/e|lorJ
|orts t|orsit
|i|ts tu
l|0RlS|0R
orJ serJs
ueoce|eeu
ir u|ces tu
Busrio.
wo| ir
Kusu.u.
Swit/e|lorJ
aoirtoirs its
rurailito|]
sorctiurs
ooirst
Yuuslo.io. lt
Jeries l/T0
t|orsit |i|ts.
/te| t|e wo|,
Swit/e|lorJ
uo|ticiuotes
ir t|e K|0R
ueoce u|ce.
1939
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
i
|u|lis|e|. Cuaauricotiur 00|S, |eJe|ol |oloce Eost wir, JJJJ Be|r
/ut|u|s. Steor /esc|iaorr, Eaaoruel Bic|et, C||istior Cot|iro, Bu/ero |use|, u||or Kouaorr, Surjo Mo|elist,
|ors|ueJi Muse|, Mo|cu 0swolJ, RueJi |luss, Mo||us Rusc|, |oul See|, Ju| Stussi|oute||u|, T|uaos Su|eaorr,
/rtur T|olaorr, S]l.io Zeau
E(uiuaert. /l|eJ C|eaire|
Curceutllo]uut. Cuaauricotiur suuuu|t, Swiss |eJe|ol C|orcelle|]
0|Je|s tu. "Swiss leut|olit]' ||uc|u|e, 0|Je| ru. 95.cJJ e 1Z.ZJJ+ 5JJJ 1Z1cc5l+
/.oilo|le |ee u c|o|e |ua. BB|l|u|licotiur Soles, JJJJ Be|r ,u|Je|s ir w|itir url]
lrte|ret u|Je|s. www.||l.oJair.c|l|urJesuu|li|otiurer
00|Sl+
t|
|e.iseJ eJitiur
SwlSS lEuTR/|lTY
Suggestions, comments
we o|e irte|esteJ ir ]uu| uuiriur u t|e "Swiss leut|olit]'
||uc|u|e.
|leose curtoct us ot.
Cuaauricotiur 00|S, |eJe|ol |oloce Eost wir, JJJJ Be|r
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