Swiss Neutrality
4th revised edition
SWISS NEUTRALITY
A brochure published by the Federal Department of Defence,
Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) in conjunction with the
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
SWISS
1
NEUTRALITY
ELEMENTS
OF NEUTRALITY
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 decisions of every country are based on its own interests, its tradition and its history.
The international situation has an influence on neutrality policy’s scope for action. Switzerland’s scope was greatly restricted during the
Second World War, for example. The law of neutrality defines the rights and duties of a neutral state.
Neutrality policy safeguards the effectiveness and credibility of neutrality. It is based on law, on the interests of the country, on the international situation, and on its history and tradition. i 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. Switzerland’s neutrality is selfdetermined, permanent and armed.
SWISS
2
NEUTRALITY
T RADITION
Active neutrality
Internal cohesion
History not only taught Switzerland to keep out of foreign conflicts, it also taught it the importance of active solidarity.
Switzerland‘s involvement here ranges from humanitarian internment (example Bourbaki Army) to the world-wide engagement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and from the Good Offices of diplomacy to the ceasefire observers in Korea and the Swiss company (SWISSCOY) in Kosovo.
In Switzerland, a country with several cultures, languages and religions, neutrality has also always served to guarantee internal cohesion whereby the principle of neutrality was also applied to conflicts within the Confederation.
A shift away from neutrality to an active foreign policy in the 16th century
SWISS NEUTRALITY
A brochure published by the Federal Department of Defence,
Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) in conjunction with the
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
SWISS
1
NEUTRALITY
ELEMENTS
OF NEUTRALITY
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 decisions of every country are based on its own interests, its tradition and its history.
The international situation has an influence on neutrality policy’s scope for action. Switzerland’s scope was greatly restricted during the
Second World War, for example. The law of neutrality defines the rights and duties of a neutral state.
Neutrality policy safeguards the effectiveness and credibility of neutrality. It is based on law, on the interests of the country, on the international situation, and on its history and tradition. i 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. Switzerland’s neutrality is selfdetermined, permanent and armed.
SWISS
2
NEUTRALITY
T RADITION
Active neutrality
Internal cohesion
History not only taught Switzerland to keep out of foreign conflicts, it also taught it the importance of active solidarity.
Switzerland‘s involvement here ranges from humanitarian internment (example Bourbaki Army) to the world-wide engagement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and from the Good Offices of diplomacy to the ceasefire observers in Korea and the Swiss company (SWISSCOY) in Kosovo.
In Switzerland, a country with several cultures, languages and religions, neutrality has also always served to guarantee internal cohesion whereby the principle of neutrality was also applied to conflicts within the Confederation.
A shift away from neutrality to an active foreign policy in the 16th century