Swiss Neutrality – a Model for Peace

by Erika Voegeli, Switzerland

We are in the year x of the war waged by the “only superpower” and its allies: war on Iraq, former Yugoslavia, Serbia, Afghanistan, again on Iraq, Lebanon – to mention only the open theatres. Contrary to all reason the signals of this superpower’s headquarters point to further wars in the near future. Despite all warnings by its own generals the neoconservative power elite around George W. Bush continues to advance war preparations against Iran and – if we assume a wider perspective – against other global rivals. Anxious voices from Lebanon express their fear of a new hot summer – of a new, even more brutal war waged by Israel in the service of Big Brother.

Solidarity does not consist of submitting ourselves to a greater body that takes over all responsibility. We should, however, on our own initiative do what is for the benefit of all. Complete independence is an indispensable prerequisite. This has always been the foundation of federal coexistence, whether on a small scale among individuals or on a larger scale between states and peoples.Wolfgang von Wartburg, Die europäische ­Dimension der Schweiz, 1996, p. 195 (Translation Current Concerns)

All sources point to the possibility that not only Iran’s nuclear plants are to be bombarded but that uranium weapons are to be employed as well, the consequences of which have already led to an incalculable disaster in all countries concerned. For their genocide, their scandalous injustice and their unprecedented inhumanity – just take the genetic damages and the immensely increased cancer rates which were caused by the use of uranium weapons – those who have caused them will one day be held responsible.

Let’s not toady the imperial power

There is no choice in this situation for anyone, who wants to remain halfway decent. And this applies even more to a neutral country like Switzerland. The idea to submit oneself in this situation – without any necessity! – to the stronger power is intolerable. This is, however, what certain circles of the Swiss Department of Defence (VBS) seem to pursue, embedding Switzerland up to an intolerable degree by affiliating with NATO’s “partnership for peace”. It is high time that we press for a reassessment, a clear orientation.

Along with these rapprochement efforts, a neutrality discussion came up that has not always been honest. Therefore the statement of the former VBS Secretary-General and later director of the Swiss representation at NATO that “one must gently let neutrality fall asleep since it is no longer necessary”1 was at least unmistakable and was admittedly uttered in striking contradiction to the deep embodiment of the neutrality principle in the Swiss population, also in the younger generation. For the people it embodies an attitude, which is committed primarily to peace – in their own country as well as to peace with all peoples of the world. It includes the renunciation of superpower politics and the promotion of international cooperation “on a par with each other” with the aim to “replace power relations between the states by law relations”.2

Very often, the international community requests Switzerland to show solidarity. This demand is legitimate. The question, however is, how true solidarity is expressed. Neutrality is – in the sense of impartiality and peace policy – a confirmation of solidarity in itself. Genuine solidarity can only exist if we ourselves practise it, i.e. if it is given voluntarily. A general submission to a collective authority especially if it is an enforced subjugation required by an outside authority, has nothing to do with true solidarity. Solidarity on a voluntary basis, however, is not an alternative to neutrality but a confirmation of neutrality.
Wolfgang von Wartburg, 
Die Neutralität der Schweiz, 1992, p. 14f
(Translation Current Concerns)

This has also been been the perception of Swiss policy abroad so far. In this way Switzerland can and must fulfil its role in the world community. The people in countries maltreated by war should have reason to hope for an ally in the form of that small neutral state “which builds its activities on the power of law and not on the strength of the most powerful”3. They – as well as the peoples in all parts of our globe that are being pushed back into neo-colonial subordination to by globalised economy – hope to find an ally in Switzerland that will promote international law, human rights and peace.

Renunciation of megalomania and ingratiation with the strongest power

Trustworthy and reliable neutrality does not have anything to do with political opportunism; it refrains from political opportunism and remains predictable - in its rejection of megalomania and ingratiation with the strongest power. Certainly this is not just granted by the fact that neutrality is a principle written down in our constitution. We have to put it into action – however that does not imply public activism or showmanship in the media. Unobtrusively, in the background, committed to law and peace, it remains the most topical and most modern principle of foreign policy and embodies genuine international solidarity.

1 Anton Thalmann. At that time Ambassador, Dep. Secretary-General of VBS and project manager of the safety policy report, then until 2003 ambassador in Belgium and head of the Swiss mission at NATO, today deputy political director in the EDA (Department of Foreign Affairs), on the occasion of a panel discussion in Berne on 23 June 1999

2 Federal counsellor Max Petitpierre in 1946 in a speech at the Federal Council

3 vgl. Hugo Buetler. Aktive Aussenpolitik der neutralen Schweiz. Neue Zürcher Zeitung 31 March 2007