'Switzerland' (, , , ), officially the 'Swiss Confederation' (''Confœderatio Helvetica'' in
Latin, hence its
ISO country code '
CH'), is a
landlocked nation of 7.5 million people in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km².
Switzerland is divided administratively into 26
cantons, six of which are sometimes referred to as "half-cantons," since they stemmed from the split of three cantons and have as a consequence only a single representative in the Council of States. Its capital is
Berne, while the largest city in Switzerland is
Zürich (which was named the city with the best quality of life in the world in
2006
[4] and 2007
[5].)
Switzerland is bordered by
Germany,
France,
Italy,
Austria and the tiny principality of
Liechtenstein. Switzerland is multilingual, with four official languages:
German,
French,
Italian and the lesser-known
Romansh also called Rhaeto-Romanic, Romansch, Romancio or Rumantsch Grischun.
Switzerland has had a long history of being neutral during war and peace-time (it has not been in a foreign war since 1815) and as such hosts various international organisations, such as the
United Nations, which, though headquartered in
New York City, has many departments in Switzerland.
The titles commonly used to name Switzerland in French (''Confédération suisse''), Italian (''Confederazione Svizzera'') and Romansh (''Confederaziun svizra'') translate as "Swiss Confederation". Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft is the German term and appears on official documents. Its Latin name "Confœderatio Helvetica" (Helvetic Confederation) and its country code "ch" for internet and car-stickers are related to the
Helvetii, an ancient
Celtic people who inhabited the Alps. It dates its independence to 1st August 1291; historically it was a
confederation, and it has been a
federation since 1848. 1st August is a national holiday on which banks and Post Offices as well as the public administration offices are closed.
History
Main articles: History of Switzerland
Old Swiss Confederacy
Main articles: Old Swiss Confederacy
Early August,
1291, the
three forest cantons of
Uri,
Schwyz, and
Unterwalden signed the
Federal Charter. The charter united the signatories in the struggle against
Habsburg rule, the family then possessing the Duchy of Austria in the
Holy Roman Empire. At the
Battle of Morgarten on
15 November 1315, the Swiss defeated the Habsburg army and secured the existence of the Swiss Confederation within the Holy Roman Empire.
By 1353 the three original cantons had been joined by the cantons of
Glarus and
Zug and the city states of
Lucerne,
Zürich and
Berne, forming the "Old Confederacy" of eight states that persisted during much of the 15th century and led to a significant increase of power and wealth of the federation, in particular due to several more victories against the Habsburg (
Sempach, Näfels), over
Charles the Bold of
Burgundy during the 1470s, and the success of the
Swiss mercenaries. The Swiss victory in the
Swabian War against the
Swabian League of
emperor Maximilian I in 1499 amounted to ''de facto'' independence from the
Holy Roman Empire.
The
expansion of the federation, and the reputation of being invincible acquired during the earlier wars, suffered a first setback in 1515 with the Swiss defeat in the
Battle of Marignano, which ended the so-called "heroic" epoch of Swiss history. The success of
Zwingli's (a Swiss Protestant Reformist)
Reformation in some cantons led to inter-cantonal wars in 1529 and 1531 (''Kappeler Kriege''). Under the
Treaty of Westphalia in 1648,
European countries recognised Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire and its
neutrality (''ancient régime''). In
Early Modern Switzerland, the conflict between
Catholic and
Protestant cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at the
battles of Villmergen in 1656 and 1712, and the growing
authoritarianism of the patriciate families combined with a financial crisis in the wake of the
Thirty Years' War led to the
Swiss peasant war of 1653.
Napoleonic era
''Mediation act, made by the first Consul of the French Republic, between parties which divide Switzerland''
In 1798 the armies of the
French Revolution conquered Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution. This centralised the government of the country and effectively abolished the cantons. The new
regime, known as the
Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. It had been imposed by a foreign invading army and destroyed centuries of tradition, including the right to worship, and made Switzerland nothing more than a French satellite state. The fierce French suppression of the
Nidwalden Revolt in September of 1798 is an example of the suppressing presence of the French army and the local population's resistance to the occupation.
When war broke out between France and other countries, Switzerland found itself being invaded by other outside forces from
Austria and
Russia. In
1803 Napoleon organised a meeting of the leading Swiss politicians from both sides in
Paris. The result was the
Act of Mediation which largely restored Swiss autonomy and introduced a Confederation of 19 cantons. Henceforth much of Swiss politics would concern balancing the cantons' tradition of self-rule with the need for a central government.
In 1815 the
Congress of Vienna fully re-established Swiss independence and the European powers agreed to permanently recognise Swiss neutrality. The treaty marked the last time that Switzerland fought in an international conflict. The treaty also allowed Switzerland to increase its territory, with the admission of the cantons of
Valais,
Neuchâtel and
Geneva - this was also the last time Switzerland's territory expanded.
Federal state
The
restoration of the power to the patriciate was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes such as the
Züriputsch of 1839, civil war broke out between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons in 1845 (the ''
Sonderbundskrieg''). The war lasted for less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties; most of which were through friendly fire. However minor the Sonderbundskrieg seems to be when compared with other European riots and wars in the 19th century, it nevertheless had a major impact on both the psychology, as well as the society of the Swiss and Switzerland. The war made all Swiss understand the need for unity and strength towards its European neighbours. Swiss people from all strata of society, whether Catholic, Protestant, or from the liberal or conservative current, realised that the cantons would profit more if their economic and religious interest were merged. Credit to those who favored the power of the cantons (the Sonderbund Kantone), the national assembly was divided among Ständerat (similar to a Senate), and the Nationarat (similar to a House of Commons). Thus, the interests of the Federationalists were accounted for. Switzerland adopted the use of
referendums and a
federal constitution in 1848. This constitution provided for a central authority while leaving the cantons the right to self-government on local issues. The constitution was amended extensively in 1874 in order to take into account the rise in population, the
Industrial Revolution and the settling of a
single currency. It also established federal responsibility for defence, trade, and legal matters.
In 1893, the constitution was revised with unusually strong elements of
direct democracy, which remains unique even today. Since then, continued political, economic, and social improvement has characterised Swiss history.
Modern history
Main articles: Switzerland during the World Wars
Main articles: Modern history of Switzerland
Switzerland was not invaded during either of the World Wars. During
World War I, Switzerland was home to
Vladimir Lenin and he remained there until 1917
[6] In 1920, Switzerland joined the
League of Nations, and in 1963 the
Council of Europe.
During World War II, detailed invasion plans were drawn up by the Germans,
[7] but Switzerland was never attacked. Switzerland was able to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence, economic concessions to Germany, and good fortune as larger events during the war delayed an invasion. Attempts by Switzerland's small Nazi party to cause an
Anschluss with Germany failed miserably. The Swiss press vigorously criticised the
Third Reich, often infuriating its leadership. Under General
Henri Guisan, a massive mobilisation of militia forces was ordered. The Swiss military strategy was changed from one of static defence at the borders to protect the economic heartland, to a strategy of organised long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong, well-stockpiled positions high in the Alps known as the
Réduit. Switzerland was an important base for espionage by both sides in the conflict and often mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.
Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the
Allies and by the
Axis. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to the Third Reich varied according to the perceived likelihood of invasion, and the availability of other trading partners. Concessions reached their zenith after a crucial rail link through
Vichy France was severed in 1942, leaving Switzerland completely surrounded by the Axis. Over the course of the war, Switzerland interned over 300,000 refugees, 104,000 of which were foreign troops, interned according to the ''Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers'' outlined in the
Hague Conventions. 60,000 of the refugees were civilians escaping persecution by the Nazis. Of these, 26,000 to 27,000 were Jews.
[8]
Women were granted the right to vote in the first Swiss cantons in 1959, at the federal level in 1971, and after resistance, in the last canton
Appenzell Innerrhoden in 1990. After suffrage at the federal level women quickly rose in political significance, with the first woman on the seven member high council being
Elisabeth Kopp from 1984–1989. The first female president was
Ruth Dreifuss, elected in 1998 to become president during 1999.
(The Swiss president is elected every year from those among the seven member high council). The second female president currently holds the 2007 Swiss high office,
Micheline Calmy-Rey. She is originally from the French-speaking western area of canton
Valais (Wallis in Swiss German). She is presently joined on the seven member cabinet/high council by a second woman,
Doris Leuthard, from the canton
Aargau. In 1979 areas from inside the previous borders in the canton of
Bern attained independence from the Bernese, forming the new
canton of Jura. On
18 April 1999 the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favour of a completely revised
federal constitution.
In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the
United Nations, leaving the
Vatican as the last widely recognised state without full UN membership. Switzerland is a founding member of the
EFTA, but is not a member of the
European Economic Area. An application for membership in the
European Union was sent in May 1992, but not advanced since the EEA was rejected in December 1992 when Switzerland was the only country to launch a referendum on the EEA. There have since been several referendums on the EU issue, with a mixed reaction to these from the population, the membership application has been frozen. Nonetheless, Swiss law is gradually being adjusted to conform with that of the EU and the government has signed a number of
bilateral agreements with the European Union. Switzerland, together with
Liechtenstein, has been completely surrounded by the EU since
Austria's membership in 1995. On
5 June 2005, Swiss voters agreed by a 55% majority to join the
Schengen treaty, a result that was regarded by EU commentators as a sign of support by Switzerland, a country that is traditionally perceived as independent, neutral, or
isolationist.
Politics
Main articles: Politics of Switzerland
The Federal Constitution adopted in 1848 is the legal foundation of the Federation. It ensures the rights of individuals and citizen participation in public affairs, divides the powers between the Confederation and the cantons and defines federal jurisdictions. Under the Federal Constitution, there are three main governing bodies:
[9] the
bicameral parliament (legislative), the
Federal Council (executive) and the
Federal Court (judicial).
The parliament consists of two houses: the
Council of States which has 46 representatives (two from each canton and one from each half-canton) who are elected under a system determined by each canton, and the
National Council, which consists of 200 members who are elected under a system of
proportional representation. Members of both houses serve for 4 years. When both houses are in joint session, they are known collectively as the
United Federal Assembly. Through
referendums, citizens may challenge any law passed by parliament and through
initiatives, introduce amendments to the federal constitution, making Switzerland a
direct democracy.
Under the 1999
constitution, cantons hold all powers not specifically delegated to the federation.
The top
executive body and collective
Head of State is the
Federal Council, a collegial body of seven members. Although the constitution provides that the Assembly elects and supervises the members of the Council for a four-year mandate, the latter (and its administration) has gradually assumed a pre-eminent role in directing the
legislative process as well as executing federal laws. The
President of the Confederation is elected from the seven to assume special representative functions for a one-year term, yet also maintains the role of his cabinet position.
From 1959 to December 2003, the four major parties were represented in the Federal Council according to the "magic formula", roughly proportional to their representation in federal parliament: 2
Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC), 2 from the
Social Democrats (SPS/PSS), 2
Liberal Democrats (FDP/PRD), and 1 from the
Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC). This traditional distribution of seats, however, is not backed up by any law, and in the 2003 elections to the Federal Council the CVP/PDC lost their second seat to the SVP/UDC, which became the strongest party in Switzerland's legislative the same year.
The function of the
Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals of cantonal courts or the administrative rulings of the federal administration. The judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms.
''Marktgasse'' with ''Zytglogge'' clock tower in the capital
BerneDirect democracy
Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the commune, canton and federal levels. The 1848 federal constitution defines a system of
direct democracy (sometimes called ''half-direct'' democracy since it is complemented by the more commonplace institutions of a
parliamentary democracy.) The instruments of Swiss direct democracy at the federal level, known as civil rights (''droits civiques'', ''Volksrechte''), include the right to submit a ''constitutional initiative'' and a ''referendum'', both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.
By calling a federal ''referendum'' a group of citizens may challenge a law that has been passed by Parliament, if they can gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a
simple majority whether to accept or reject the law. Eight cantons together can also call a referendum on a federal law.
Similarly, the federal ''constitutional initiative'' allows citizens to put a
constitutional amendment to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.
[10] Parliament can complement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a
double majority of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes.
[11]
Cantons
Main articles: Cantons of Switzerland
The canton of Schwyz in the centre of Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation consists of 26
cantons:
Distribution of Languages in Switzerland
★ These cantons are represented by only one councillor in the Council of States.
Their populations vary between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zürich), and their area between 37 km² (Basel-Stadt) and 7,105 km² (Graubünden). The Cantons comprise a total of 2,889
municipalities. Within Switzerland there are two
enclaves:
Büsingen belongs to
Germany,
Campione d'Italia belongs to
Italy.
In a referendum held in the
Austrian state of
Vorarlberg on
11 May 1919 over 80% of those voting supported a proposal that the state should join the Swiss Confederation. However, this was prevented by the opposition of the
Austrian Government, the
Allies,
Swiss liberals, the Swiss-Italians (persons of Swiss nationality who live in
Italian Switzerland - see map) and the
Romands (Swiss nationals living in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland - see map).
[12]
International institutions in Switzerland
An unusual number of international institutions have their seats in Switzerland, in part due to its policy of neutrality. The
Red Cross was founded there in 1863 and still has its institutional centre in the country. Switzerland is not a member of the
European Union; the Swiss people rejected membership in a referendum in the early 1990s. Switzerland is one of the most recent countries to have joined the
United Nations, in 2002, even though
Geneva is the second biggest centre for the
United Nations after
New York, and Switzerland was a founding member of the
League of Nations.
Geography
Main articles: Geography of Switzerland
Map of Switzerland (detailed)
With an area of 41,285
square kilometres (15,940
sq mi), Switzerland is a relatively small country. The population is about 7.4 million, resulting in an average
population density of 182 people per square kilometre (472/sq mi).
[13] However, the more mountainous southern half of the country is far more sparsely populated than this average, while the northern half has a somewhat greater density, as it comprises more hospitable hilly terrain, partly forested and partly cleared, as well as several large lakes.
Switzerland comprises three basic topographical areas: the
Swiss Alps, the
Swiss plateau or "middleland", and the
Jura mountains along the northwestern border with France. The
Alps are a high mountain range running across the central-south of the country. Among the high peaks of the
Swiss Alps, the highest of which is the
Dufourspitze at 4,634 metres (15,203 ), are found countless valleys, many with waterfalls and
glaciers. From these the headwaters of several major European rivers such as the
Rhine,
Rhône,
Inn,
Aare, and
Ticino flow finally into the largest Swiss lakes such as
Lake Geneva (Lac Leman),
Lake Zürich,
Lake Neuchâtel, and
Lake Constance. The smaller lakes near the mountains tend to be a brilliant turquoise color, especially in the summer.
The Matterhorn
The most famous mountain is the
Matterhorn (4,478 m) in
Valais and
Pennine Alps bordering Italy. The highest mountain, the Dufourspitze or
Monte Rosa, is very close to the Matterhorn. The section of the
Bernese Alps above the deep glacial
Lauterbrunnen Valley containing 72 waterfalls is also well known for the Jungfrau (4,158 m), Mönch, Eiger group of peaks, and the many picturesque valleys in the region. In the southeast the long
Engadin Valley, encompassing the St Moritz area in canton
Graubünden, is also quite known and the highest peak here is the Piz Bernina (4,049 m).
The northern section and more populous part of the country is called the Middle Land. It has greater open and hilly landscapes, partly forested, partly open meadow, usually with grazing herds, or vegetables and fruits growing, but it can still be somewhat mountainous. There are large lakes found here and the biggest Swiss cities are in this area of the country. This section, particularly the west, is also referred to as the "Seeland" (the land of lakes) and the largest lake is Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French), at the westernmost of Switzerland. The
Rhone River is the main tributary to Lac Léman.
The Swiss
climate is generally
temperate, but can vary greatly between the localities, from glacial conditions on the mountain tops to the often pleasant
Mediterranean climate at Switzerland's southern tip. Summer tends to be warm and humid at times with periodic rain so it is ideal for pastures and grazing. The winters in the mountains alternate with sun and
snow, while the lower lands tend to be more cloudy and foggy in winter. A weather phenomenon known as the ''Föhn'' can occur at all times of the year, even in winter, and is characterised by a wind with warm Mediterranean air. The driest conditions persist in the southern valleys of the Wallis/Valais above which valuable
saffron is harvested and many grapes are grown, Graubünden also tends to be drier in climate and slightly colder, yet with plentiful snow in winter. The wettest conditions persist in the high Alps and in the Ticino which has much sun yet heavy bursts of rain from time to time. The east tends to be colder than the west of Switzerland, yet anywhere up high in the mountains can experience a cold spell at any time of the year. Precipitation tends to be spread moderately throughout the year, with minor variations across the seasons depending on locale. Autumn frequently tends to be the driest season, yet the weather patterns in Switzerland can be highly variable from year to year, and very difficult to predict.
general map of Switzerland
Switzerland's eco-systems can be particularly vulnerable, due to the many delicate valleys separated by high mountains, often forming unique ecologies. The mountainous regions themselves are also vulnerable, with a rich range of plants not found at other altitudes, and experience some pressure from visitors and grazing. The treeline in the mountains of Switzerland has retreated down 1000 ft over the years, largely due to herding and grazing pressures.
''See also:''
Swisstopo topographical survey,
List of lakes of Switzerland,
List of rivers of Switzerland,
List of mountain passes in Switzerland.
Economy
Main articles: Economy of Switzerland
Tourism is important in the
Engadin valley above St. Moritz
Cheese making and dairying is an important Swiss industry
Switzerland has a prosperous and stable modern market economy, with a nominal per capita
GDP that is higher than those of the big western European economies,
United States and
Japan, though on a
PPP basis, it ranks tenth. The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report currently ranks Switzerland's economy as the most competitive in the world.
[14] For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the wealthiest country in Europe by a considerable margin.
Several of the world's largest companies are headquartered in Switzerland. Notable among these are
Nestle,
UBS AG,
Credit Suisse,
Novartis,
ABB, and
Swatch. Switzerland is ranked under the sixth most powerful economical countries in the world.
Banking, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are very important industries in Switzerland. The manufacture of precision instruments for engineering is important, as is watchmaking, and the biological sciences industries as well enjoy a high place in the Swiss economy. The many international organisations in Switzerland contribute to the Swiss economy and labor market. Switzerland has nearly zero
unemployment.
[15]
Switzerland and Europe
In recent years, the Swiss have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with those of the European Union in many ways, in an effort to enhance their international competitiveness. The economy has been growing most recently at around 3% per year. Full EU membership is a long-term objective of some in the Swiss government, but there is considerable popular sentiment against this supported by the conservative SVP party. The western French-speaking areas tend to be more pro-EU.
The government has established an
Integration Office under the Department of Foreign and Economic Affairs. To minimise the negative consequences of Switzerland's isolation from the rest of Europe, Bern and
Brussels signed seven agreements, called bilateral agreements, to further liberalise trade ties. These agreements were signed in 1999 and took effect in 2001. This first series of bilateral agreements included the free movement of persons. A second series covering nine areas was signed in 2004 and has since been ratified. The second series includes the
Schengen treaty and the
Dublin Convention. They continue to discuss further areas for cooperation. Switzerland most recently (2006) approved a billion francs supportative investment in the poorer eastern European countries in support of cooperation and positive ties to the EU as a whole. A further referendum will be needed to approve 300 million francs to support Romania and Bulgaria and their recent admission to the ever growing EU club. The Swiss have also been under EU and sometimes international pressure to open up their bank secrecy and to raise their tax rates into compliance with the EU. Preparatory discussions are being opened on four new areas: opening up the electricity market, participation in the European GPS system
Galileo, cooperating with the European centre for disease prevention and recognising certificates of origin for food products. Switzerland voted against membership in the
European Economic Area in December 1992 and has since maintained and developed its relationships with the European Union and European countries through bilateral agreements. Any internal debate on the subject has been suspended since March 2001, when the Swiss people refused in a popular vote to start accession negotiations with the EU. Both Switzerland and Norway have consistently voted against EU membership, although the votes have been very close.
Energy
Electricity generated in Switzerland is 40% from
nuclear and 60% from
hydroelectricity resulting in a CO2-free energy-generating network.
On
18 May 2003, two anti-nuclear initiatives were turned down: ''Moratorium Plus'', aimed at forbidding the building of new
nuclear power plants (41.6% supported and 58.4% opposed),
[16] and Electricity Without Nuclear (33.7% supported and 66.3% opposed).
[17] The former ten-year
moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants was the result of a
citizens' initiative voted on in 1990 which had passed with 54.5% Yes vs. 45.5% No votes. A new nuclear plant in the
Canton of Bern is presently planned.
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is the office responsible for all questions relating to energy supply and energy use within the
Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC).See also SwissEnergy.
[18]
Switzerland is heavily active in recycling and anti-littering bans and is one of the top recyclers in the world with 66% to 96% of the different recyclable materials being recycled.
[19] In many places in Switzerland, household rubbish disposal is charged for. Garbage (except dangerous items, batteries etc.) will only be collected if it is in bags which either have a payment sticker attached, or in official bags with the surcharge paid when the bags are purchased.
[20] This gives a financial incentive to recycle as much as possible, since recycling is free.
[21] Swiss health officials and police often open up garbage for which the disposal charge has not been paid. They search for evidence such as old bills which connect the bag to the household/person they originated from. Fines for not paying the disposal fee range from 200–500 Francs ($165-$410 at April 2007 exchange rates).
[22]
Demographics
Main articles: Swiss (people),
Demographics of Switzerland
Main languages in Switzerland:
[23]
Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures that have heavily influenced the country's languages and culture. Switzerland has three
official languages:
German (63%) in the north, east and centre of the country;
French (30.4%) to the west;
Italian (6.5%) in the south.
Romansh, a
Romance language spoken locally by a small minority (< 0.5%) in the southeastern canton of
Graubünden, is designated by the Federal Constitution as a national language along with German, French and Italian (Article 4 of the Constitution), and as official language if the authorities communicate with persons of Romansh language (Article 70), but federal laws and other official acts must not be decreed in this language. The federal government is obliged to communicate in the official languages, and in the federal parliament simultaneous translation is provided from and into German, French and Italian. The German spoken in Switzerland is predominantly a group of
dialects collectively known as
Swiss German, but written communication and broadcasts typically use
Swiss Standard German. Similarly, there are some dialects of
Franco-Provençal in rural communities in the French speaking part, known as "Suisse romande" , called Vaudois, Gruérien, Jurassien, Empro, Fribourgeois, Neuchâtelois, and in the Italian speaking area,
Ticinese (a dialect of
Lombard) . Also the official languages (German, French and Italian) borrow some terms not understood outside of Switzerland, i.e. terms from other languages (German ''Billette''
[SBB: Billette - OnlineTicket] from French), from similar term in another language (Italian ''azione'' used not as ''act'' but as ''discount'' from German ''Aktion''). Learning one of the other national languages at school is obligatory for all Swiss, so most Swiss are supposed to be at least
bilingual (in reality, many Swiss are more fluent in English than in their own country's other languages, particularly the German-speaking Swiss).
Resident foreigners and temporary foreign workers make up about 21% of the population. Most of these are from European Union countries (
Italians being the largest group, at 4%), with people from the various nations of former
Yugoslavia making up (5%), with ethnic
Albanians as the largest group among them, as well as
Turks (1%). The country has seen growing immigration of various nationalities, as well as from the
Caribbean and
South America. Tamil refugees from
Sri Lanka are the most prominent group of people of Asian origin.
Religion
Main articles: Religion in Switzerland
The Notre Dame de Valere
Switzerland has no country-wide
state religion, though most of the
cantons (except for
Geneva and
Neuchâtel) recognise official churches, in all cases including the
Catholic Church and the
Swiss Reformed Church. These churches, and in some cantons also the
Old Catholic Church and Jewish congregations, are financed by official taxation of adherents.
[24]
Christianity is the predominant religion of Switzerland, divided between the
Catholic Church (41.8% of the population) and various
Protestant denominations (40%). Immigration has brought
Islam (4.3%, predominantly
Albanians) and
Eastern Orthodoxy (1.8%) as sizeable minority religions.
[25] The 2005 Eurobarometer poll
[26] found 48% to be
theist, 39% expressing belief in "a spirit or life force", 9%
atheist and 4%
agnostic.
Cathedral Notre-Dame of
Lausanne in the French speaking west.
The country is historically about evenly balanced between Catholic and Protestant, with a complex patchwork of majorities over most of the country. Some cantons, such as Appenzell, are even officially divided into Catholic and Protestant sections. The larger cities (Bern, Zürich and Basel) are predominantly Protestant. Central Switzerland, as well as the Ticino, is traditionally Catholic. The
Swiss constitution of 1848, under the recent impression of the clashes of Catholic vs. Protestant cantons that culminated in the
Sonderbundskrieg, consciously defines a
consociational state, allowing the peaceful co-existence of Catholics and Protestants. A 1980 initiative calling for the complete
separation of church and state was clearly rejected, with only 21.1% voting in support.
Culture
Main articles: Culture of Switzerland
The culture of Switzerland is influenced by its neighbours and its international sentiment, but over the years a distinctive culture with some regional differences and an independent streak has developed. In particular, French-speaking regions have tended to orient themselves slightly more on French culture and tend to be more pro
EU. In general, the Swiss are known for their long standing
humanitarian tradition as Switzerland is the birth place of the
Red Cross Movement and hosts the
United Nations Human Rights Council.
Swiss German speaking areas may perhaps be seen more oriented on German culture and can be more
traditionalist and
neutralist, and Italian-speaking areas can have more of an Italian culture. A region may be in some ways strongly culturally connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language. The linguistically isolated
Rhaeto-Romanic culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is also robust and strives to maintain its very rare linguistic tradition. Switzerland's entry to the
Eurovision Song Contest of 1989 was in Romansh.
Many mountain areas have a strong highly energetic ski town culture in winter, and a hiking/wandering culture in summer. Some areas throughout the year have a recreational culture that caters to tourism, yet the quieter seasons are spring and autumn when there are fewer visitors and a higher ratio of Swiss. A traditional farmer and herder culture also predominates in many areas, and this connection to the land and agriculture is a strong glue holding all the Swiss together. Even though most no longer actually farm themselves, the small farms are omnipresent outside the cities, and as well many Swiss at least have a small garden plot or many window boxes with
geraniums and other flowers.
Sport
Like many European nations the Swiss are big fans of
football and the national team or '
Nati' is widely supported. Swiss wrestling or "
Schwingen" is an old tradition from the rural central cantons and considered the national sport.
Hornussen is another indigenous
Swiss sport, which is like a cross between
baseball and
golf.
Steinstossen is the
Swiss variant of
stone put, a competition in throwing a heavy stone. Practiced among the alpine population since prehistoric times, it is recorded to have taken place in
Basel in the 13th century. It is also central to the
Unspunnenfest, first held in 1805, with its symbol the 83.5 kg
Unspunnenstein.
Motorsport race courses were banned in Switzerland following the
1955 Le Mans disaster.
Floorball is a newcoming sport in Switzerland that grows every year in popularity. A main factor is the professional league called
NLA that draws many famous players from other countries. Over the last years also Swiss
tennis players, like
Roger Federer and
Martina Hingis, have been multiple Grand Slam singles champions.
Although Switzerland has never won the world cup, many Swiss follow
hockey and support one of the 12 clubs in the league A. Two clubs are from the French speaking part, and two other from the Italian part. The
Graubunden have
HC Davos as their own club which won the 2006–2007 Swiss championship. The German speaking part of Switzerland has 7 clubs.
Switzerland is also the homeland of the successful sailing team
Alinghi. There are other type of sports where the Swiss sportsman are very strong and successful, such as Fencing (Marcel Fischer), Whitewater Slalom (Ronnie Dürrenmatt) - Canoe, Mathias Röthenmund - Kayak), Ice hockey (Swiss National League), Beach Volleyball (Heyer-Egger, the Lacigas brothers), Skiing (Bernhard Russi, Primin Zurbriggen, Didier Cuche)
Crime
Switzerland has traditionally a low
crime rate.
[2] However, in recent years the crime rate has increased, including a comparatively high
resident aliens fraction, which has been a topic of political controversy.
See also
★
2004 in Switzerland,
2005 in Switzerland
★
Switzerland and the European Union
★
Enlargement of the European Union - Switzerland
★
Foreign relations of Switzerland
★
List of cities in Switzerland
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List of Swiss people
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Swiss citizenship
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Swiss National Day
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Communications in Switzerland
★
Data codes for Switzerland
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Education in Switzerland
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Military of Switzerland
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Public holidays in Switzerland
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Transport in Switzerland
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List of Swiss companies
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Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
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List of Switzerland-related topics
★
Swiss folklore
Notes
1. The motto is traditional; it is not officially defined by the Swiss constitution or Swiss law. See Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno for more information.
2. Federal Constitution, article 70, "Languages", paragraph 1: The official languages of the Confederation are German, French, and Italian. Romansh shall be an official language for communicating with persons of Romansh language.
3. Press release of the Federal Statistical Office, 30 August 2007
4. http://www.citymayors.com/features/quality_survey.html
5. http://www.mercerhr.com/knowledgecenter/reportsummary.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1128060#top50all
6. See Vladimir Lenin
7. ''Let's Swallow Switzerland'' by Klaus Urner (Lexington Books, 2002).
8. The Bergier Commission Final Report, page 117 http://www.uek.ch/en/.
9. admin.ch - Political System
10. Since 1999, an initiative can also be in the form of a general proposal to be elaborated by Parliament, but because it is considered less attractive for various reasons, this form of initiative has yet to find any use.
11. I.e., a majority of 23 cantonal votes, because the result of the popular vote in the six traditional half-cantons each counts as half the vote of one of the other cantons.
12. unige.ch - Direct democracy in the world
13. A zoomable map of Switzerland is available at either www.swissinfo-geo.org or www.swissgeo.ch; a zoomable satellite picture is at map.search.ch.
14. World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report
15. Forbes: Swiss May unemployment 2.7 pct vs 2.9 pct in April 2007
16. http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det502.html
17. http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/20030518/det501.html
18. SwissEnergy
19. http://www.swissrecycling.ch/deutsch/wregel.htm
20. Stadtreinigung Basel-Stadt - Pricelist bags and stickers
21. BBC Recycling around the world, 25 June 2005. Last accessed 24 April 2006.
22. Richtig Entsorgen (Kanton Basel-Stadt) - Wilde Deponien sind verboten... Für die Beseitigung widerrechtlich deponierter Abfälle wird zudem eine Umtriebsgebühr von Fr. 200.– oder eine Busse erhoben (page 90)
23. Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Federal Population Census 2000
24. state.gov - Switzerland
25. CIA World Factbook section on Switzerland
26. available at eu.int
References
★ Clive H. Church (2004) ''The Politics and Government of Switzerland''. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-69277-2.
★ Dieter Fahrni (2003) ''An Outline History of Switzerland. From the Origins to the Present Day''. 8th enlarged edition. Pro Helvetia, Zürich. ISBN 3-908102-61-8
★
Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (2002-). Published electronically and in print simultaneously in three national languages of Switzerland.
★
The Economist, "''A special case: A survey of Switzerland''".
14 February 2004.
★
Swiss Statistics, official website of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office.
★
CIA World Factbook - Switzerland
External links
'Official'
★
The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation
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Your Gateway to Switzerland
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Maps from the Federal Office of Topography
'History'
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History of Switzerland: Primary Documents
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Historical Dictionary of Switzerland in German, French and Italian
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history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch
'References'
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Online Map
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The official Telephone Directory
'Media'
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung, a Swiss daily newspaper in German
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Le Temps, a Swiss daily newspaper in French
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Corriere Del Ticino, a Swiss daily newspaper in Italian
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swissinfo - News + Infos in 9 languages
'Tourism'
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Switzerland Tourism, a national tourism organisation
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List of Swiss municipalities, all about Swiss municipalities
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Gay Times (UK) Entry on Switzerland
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Calendar of Festivals in Switzerland
'Energy'
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SwissEnergy
'Education'
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educa.ch The Swiss Education Server
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swissuniversity.ch Universities in Switzerland
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