factors accounting for swiss harmony and unity 1.fair laws 2.direct democracy 3.compromise and...

Factors Factors accountinaccounting for g for Swiss Swiss Harmony Harmony and Unityand Unity

1. Fair Laws2. Direct Democracy3. Compromise and

Accommodation4. External Threat5. A Common

Identity

1. FAIR 1. FAIR LAWSLAWS

• Swiss Constitution : All Swiss are equal before the law

• Four lang enjoy equal status

• Fed govt gives support to cantons to protect minority groups

– Eg small G-community in I-speaking region

– allowed to preserve its language and culture

• Cantons and communes are governed independently

• Own parliament; some laws unique to themselves

• Cantons and communes make their own laws decided by their citizens

• Thus, rights of citizens are protected

2. DIRECT 2. DIRECT DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY

• DD - a form of government where people participate directly in the decision-making process in all govt matters

• Every person can vote or has a choice about every decision made

• Decision-making shared among the people

• All above 18 can vote


REFERENDUMREFERENDUM

• Fed/national level : Swiss are called to vote on various issues - usually 4 times a year

• Vote on issues from membership in int’l orgns to legislation of hard drugs

• Canton level : people elect own cantonal govt

• Decide and vote on education, public health and local taxes

• No school, theatre or hosp is built without people’s consent

• Commune level : people elect own govt and vote on matters of concern to them

• Almost everything in CH is subject to a referendum


REFERENDUMREFERENDUM

• Swiss citizens decide whether any decision by parliament is accepted or rejected

• Do so by a REFERENDUM• Obtain 50,000 signatures if one

wishes to reject parliament’s proposal or propose a new law

• Then he can get the govt to hold a referendum on the issue

• All new laws must have• Support of majority of citizens• Majority of cantons• Examples : Ban on firing of guns

during religious festivals• Rejection of legalisation of

drugs

• Change to the Federal Constitution needs 100,000 signatures

• Known as an INITIATIVE• Needs more signature

because changing the Constitution is more serious

• For an Initiative to be passed, must be agreed by :

– Majority of citizens– Majority of cantons


INITIATIVEINITIATIVE

• 1971 : Proposal allowing women to vote

• Before 1972, Swiss women had no right to vote

• An Initiative changed this• 1989 : An Initiative was

signed by 113,000 to abolish the Swiss army

• Turned down by a margin of almost 2:1

• Set off a fierce debate on the usefulness of an army in a small neutral country



• The Swiss value independence & responsibility of governing themselves through this process of Direct Democracy

• Their direct participation has given them a strong sense of belonging and a stake in building their own community

• Shared decision making is valued and cherished



• Peace and harmony within cantons and communes

• Mainly because of a high level of respect and tolerance for each other

• For minority groups by majority groups and vice-versa

• Possible because the Swiss value peace and harmony among different language and religious groups

• This respect for each other enabled different groups to retain individuality

3. COMPROMISE 3. COMPROMISE & ACCOMMO-& ACCOMMO-DATIONDATION

• Swiss history has shown how fragile society is if they do not exercise tolerance and restraint

• Led to conflicts among different groups in the past

• Swiss have been able to go beyond respect to compromise with each other

• Compromise involves one group giving up certain demands or rights so as to avoid conflict

• In Switzerland, compromise is a higher form of respect

• Let’s look at the ways they compromise with and accommodate each other


• Swiss realise that power to govern must be shared among the main language groups to ensure harmony

• Should not be dominated by any single group

• Contrast with Sri Lanka where power-sharing is impossible

• Why the difference?• Power-sharing in Switzerland : one

way to avoid decisions by a majority group

• Esp important in matters relating to minority groups

• Process of negotiation and compromise

• See page 80 Fig 14 on how power is shared in the Federal Council (FC)


POWER-SHARINGPOWER-SHARING

• Representation of language and religious groups in FC based on proportion in their country

• Until late 1999, the 3 main language groups were represented in this 7-member Council

• 4G, 2F and 1I• Corresponds to proportion in

population• Romansh is usually not

represented (only 1% of pop)• Late 1999 : 5G and 2F


POWER-SHARING :POWER-SHARING :LanguageLanguage

• Swiss population : fairly equal number of Catholics and Protestants

• In FC : fairly balanced representation

• The 4 political parties are all represented in FC based on number of votes they received


POWER-SHARING :POWER-SHARING :Religion & Political Religion & Political PartiesParties

• Power-sharing within the Federal Assembly which is made up of 2 Councils

• The National Council– Reps from cantons and

various political parties– Each canton elects reps in

proportion to its population• Council of States• Power-sharing is also

practiced in the Swiss Army and the postal service

• See Page 82 Fig 16


POWER-SHARING :POWER-SHARING :Federal AssemblyFederal Assembly

• The main advantage of power-sharing in Switzerland is that it gives importance to minority groups

• They have a say in matters of concern to them

• Thus their interests are looked after

• Gives them a sense of belonging

• Helps to promote harmony in the country


POWER-SHARING :POWER-SHARING :AdvantageAdvantage

• G-Swiss – majority• Nothing to prevent them from

controlling the govt but they do not

• To avoid conflict, they are very careful about the feelings of minority groups

• Eg subsidy of French schools in G-cantons

– G-Swiss gives up right to spend G-Swiss gives up right to spend more money on German schools more money on German schools so that French schools can be so that French schools can be subsidisedsubsidised

– G-Swiss also agreed to set aside G-Swiss also agreed to set aside more jobs in the Civil Service more jobs in the Civil Service for indigenous minority groupsfor indigenous minority groups


FAVORING THE FAVORING THE MINORITYMINORITY

• Fed govt : Spends more $ on French and Italian broadcasting prog than on German prog despite the former being the minority

– Eg the smallest radio-TV Eg the smallest radio-TV network for I-Swiss network for I-Swiss receives 25% of total receives 25% of total budget for radio & TV progbudget for radio & TV prog

– 5 times more than the 5 times more than the share due to themshare due to them

• Look at Fig 17 on Page 83


FAVORING THE FAVORING THE MINORITYMINORITY

• All bank notes in Switzerland bear the name of the Swiss National Bank in the 4 official languages

• Public signs are also usually in 3 official languages and English


Bank Notes and Bank Notes and Public SignsPublic Signs

• In some countries, minority groups expect favourable treatment from majority groups

• But not in Switzerland where they are willing to compromise to avoid conflict

• Eg All official documents issued by Fed govt are in German

– Although the official lang are Although the official lang are given equal status in the given equal status in the ConstitutionConstitution

– Subsequently translated into Subsequently translated into French and ItalianFrench and Italian

– F- and I-Swiss willing to F- and I-Swiss willing to accommodate this procedureaccommodate this procedure


Mutual RespectMutual Respect

• One reason why the Swiss stay united : Fear of external invasion

• History : Many external threats

• To protect itself : Adopted policy of neutrality since 16th century

• After invasion by Napoleon, Swiss were determined never to allow another invasion again

• Spend resources building a strong army that anticipated new threats

4. EXTERNAL 4. EXTERNAL THREATTHREAT

Fear of InvasionFear of Invasion

• WWI : Swiss neutrality threatened when G-Swiss passed military secrets to Germany

• WWII : Threatened by a German invasion

• Mobilised entire army of 250,000 within a few days

• Its readiness to defend itself made enemy afraid to attack it

• Neighbouring countries also respected Swiss neutrality

• Explains why Switzerland was not attacked in WWII


WWI & WWIIWWI & WWII

• WWII : Swiss borders patrolled by 850,000 troops

• Fortresses built in the Alps to repel any German attack

• 1940 : Germany ignored Swiss neutrality and sent warplanes into Swiss airspace

• They were shot down and the invasion stopped


WWIIWWII

• Swiss army constantly prepared and ready

• Conscription : Compulsory National Service for all able-bodied men between 20 and 50

• All undergo basic military training followed by 8 years of annual training

• Officers : train up to 50 or 55• Military preparedness deeply

rooted in the Swiss• Each man keeps his own

weapon at home, ready for action


Military ServiceMilitary Service

• Swiss army brought people from different backgrounds together for a common purpose – to defend the country

• People and army are one as army is made up of citizen soldiers

• For the young male Swiss, time in the army is when they mix with other men from different lang or religious groups

• NS is significant in uniting the different lang or religious groups



• Majority of Swiss believe that remaining neutral is the best way to ensure national security and independence

• A strong army with sophisticated weapons is necessary to help maintain this

• In the course of history, Switzerland has developed its own defence strategies to meet its special needs

• Despite its small physical size and limited natural resources, Switzerland has a very strong national defence system



• Differences between groups have never been serious enough for the country to fall apart

• Awareness of a shared history of 700 years – bind Swiss in unity

• History of Switzerland began in 1291

• Page 87• The will of the people to be

an independent nation is an identity all Swiss are proud of

5. A COMMON 5. A COMMON IDENTITYIDENTITY

Shared HistoryShared History

• 1940 : Surrounded by countries at war

• Swiss General, Henri Guisan, gathered 500 senior military officers again on Rutli meadow, the legendary birthplace of Switzerland

• Called on them to stand united and fight the enemy, whatever the cost

• This gathering was an inspiring and significant moment in Swiss history



• Guisan introduced a new defence concept

• Withdrew the army from the borders and lowlands

• Concentrated it in the Alps• Determination of the Swiss army to

defend the Alps from 1940 to 1945 helped prevent an invasion

• Since then, the Alps have become a symbol of national pride

• Gave the people a strong sense of unity

• WWII : Germans stopped food supply to Switzerland

• Swiss solved it by growing potatoes• Despite this and other planned

German invasions, the Swiss never surrendered



• A country of many traditions• A rich culture kept alive over

centuries• Celebrates its heritage with

holidays and festivals• Vary from canton to canton• Often reflect local traditions• Put on traditional costumes

with pride• All these give the Swiss an

identity to be proud of


Rich CultureRich Culture

• Sharing something in common allows the Swiss to feel different from their neighbouring countries

• Strong will of the people to remain independent has given them a common identity

• Swiss created the phrase “Willensnation” – “a nation by will”

• Direct democracy, power-sharing, neutrality, a common history and a rich culture have served to give the Swiss a sense of national identity


WillensnationWillensnation

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