Swiss Politics: Rise of New Parties and Neutrality
Swiss Politics: The Rise of New Parties
As a consequence, a strong process of individualism has developed, producing a profound change in cultural and social values in Switzerland, creating various green parties and alternative movements. The Green Party has gained more popular support, and it also includes those excluded or disaffected with the political system.
The increased political disenchantment, along with a worsening of the Swiss economy and increased social exclusion in the late 1980s and early 1990s, created fertile ground for the growth of popular radical forces. These forces focused their support on the automotive sector, which emerged in the late 80s to challenge the Government’s efforts in restricting traffic in the interests of the environment. However, this movement soon abandoned its initial idea to engage in an attack on the bureaucratic state, the welfare state, and the existing refugee or asylum law.
Perhaps the most important new political force is the UDC (1999, 14 seats more than in previous elections). The spectacular rise and its extremist thesis may, in the near future, bring a change in Swiss traditional politics. This last point, if any, is against the manifest wishes Europeans shown by the last Government, as the president of the UDC has always defended nationalist theses and insists on preserving the neutrality and independence of Switzerland.
Neutrality in Switzerland
8. NEUTRALITY
It is a secular characteristic of the Swiss State. A passive legal notion of nonintervention, neutrality is specified in a number of duties, with the fundamentals:
§ Fairness: equal treatment to the belligerents;
§ The abstention or exclusion of any assistance to a belligerent against the other (limited to the period of hostilities lasting or permanent). It can be:
/ / § Integral: the whole military or economic aspect / / §
Differential: only in the military. / / / Swiss neutrality is since the Peace of Westphalia and comprehensive permanent (except on one occasion but subsequently returned to it). Swiss neutrality is active, i.e., armed. Switzerland is entitled to act if necessary. In this sense, the permanent neutrality is distinguished from perpetual peace. / / In the beginning of the First World War, the German-speaking Swiss elites chose the German side, while the French opted for the French, which jeopardized the nation of Switzerland. In response, Switzerland reaffirmed its position of strict neutrality while popular initiatives are blamed as the Red Cross. After the Second World War, Switzerland began to participate actively in a number of economic and cultural organizations, including the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but declined to join the United Nations. / / With regard to domestic policy, the government of Switzerland has reached the magic formula of a quadripartite government. / / In addition, unlike neighboring countries, Switzerland is now probably the only country (except the USA) that maintains its identity not only on ethnical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, but the Swiss nation is based on a number of historical roots to maintain a common policy. Three institutions have been of great importance: federalism, democracy, and armed neutrality. / / With respect to the stability of the Swiss national consciousness in recent years of the twentieth century has been widely questioned, during the debate on European integration. It was feared that the EU membership may reduce the possibility that people had an impact on parliamentary decisions and this entails a considerable loss of direct democracy. / / The referendum on the European Economic Area (EEA) in December 1992 produced a series of clashes in Swiss society. On one hand, those who supported the incorporation saw the possibility of avoiding isolation and taking advantage of a number of economic benefits. For another, the opponents were wary of the European integration process, both by the loss of independence as a negative impact on the economy.