Professors take closer look at Switzerland’s vote to join U.N.
A monumental point in Switzerland’s history took place March 3 when its citizens voted to join the United Nations.
Politically, it’s a baby step to a possible European Union membership, said Carolyn Rhodes, professor of political science at Utah State University.
Switzerland still maintains its neutrality but will now have a voice in United Nations’ discussion, she said.
Robert Cole, professor of history at USU, said, “To be neutral means you do not take sides and participate in a war that is going on at a particular time.”
He said a neutral country still maintains the right to continue diplomatic relations.
Rhodes said, “There’s nothing in U.N. membership that conflicts with neutrality.”
Switzerland will simply be able to participate in the dialogue more, she said. The issue is not of Switzerland maintaining neutrality, but is a shift from their isolationist policy.
“Joining the U.N. is a step away from isolationism but not necessarily a step from neutrality,” she said. “It’s more the idea that they want to have a seat at the table.”
Maybe the vote will show how more people are feeling in Switzerland, she said.
The big step will be if they decide to join the European Union, a decision which was tabled in March 2001. By joining the European Union, Switzerland would be giving up more sovereignty. However “the European Union has been very careful in the policy to protect the neutrals,” Rhodes said.
Cole said, “That’s really weird when you think how many centuries they’ve been a neutral country.”
The big step historically is Europe, as a continent, beginning to work as one, he said.
“The European continent is moving in the direction of becoming an international federation,” Cole said.
In 1515, Switzerland’s neutrality was recognized. Not since then has Switzerland engaged in a war.
In general, Switzerland has been left out for too long, Cole said.
The earliest of human activity in Switzerland was detected in the Paleolithic Age. The peaceful era of daily living was interrupted by invasion of the Roman Empire by German tribes, according to Swiss Genealogy on the Internet at www.eye.ch/swissgen/history.
Between 1332 to 1353, Lucerne, Zurich, Glarus, Zug and Bern all joined the confederation.
By the end of the 14th century, the confederation was on its way to becoming an independent state within the Empire. At this time, power and land passed from the nobles to the cities. The Swiss gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire after its victory at Dornach in 1499.
In 1515, the Swiss declared neutrality after being defeated by the French and Venetians.
Zurich’s Great Council was ready to make economic and political changes by 1525. The Reformation split the Swiss confederation between the Catholics and the Protestants.
The population rose from 1.2 to 1.6 million between 1700 and 1800. Military pressure in Switzerland also increased once Napoleon Bonaporte established French power in Italy. In 1798, Switzerland was defeated and was on the path to a new federal state. The new constitution guaranteed the right to reside where one chose, equality before the law and freedom of association.
Revisions to the federal constitution were made after the democrats won a constitutional battle over social and economic reforms.
Switzerland came close to giving up its neutrality during World War I and World War II. However it remained neutral in both wars.
Though it assumed a role in specialized agencies, Switzerland did not join the United Nations. Geneva, however, did become the European headquarters for the United Nations. Switzerland also did not become a member of the Council of Europe when it was first formed in 1945.
In 1986, entering into the United Nations was voted against. And in March 2001, Swiss voters rejected a proposal to enter into membership talks with the European Union.