The New Swiss Military Capability

Codding, George A.

doi:10.2307/20029572

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Swiss capitalism and democracy would not have endured for long if Western Europe had fallen to Communism. To make matters worse, nuclear weapons meant that a war, even if it did not touch Swiss territory, could render the state uninhabitable (Codding 1962). Reflecting on these changes, Habicht observed that, contrary to previous wars, Switzerland would not be able to “float ‘ au dessus de la (above the) mêlée’ and continue as an untouched island” (Habicht: 463).…”

Section: The Origins Of Security Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%

From Armed Neutrality to External Dependence: Swiss Security in the 21^stCentury

DeVore

Stähli

2011

Swiss Political Sci Review

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Historically, Swiss identity was founded on beliefs in federalism, direct democracy and armed neutrality. Given continued popular support for autonomous self-defense in an era of transnational threats, it is worth examining whether a small economically interdependent state, such as Switzerland, is single-handedly capable of providing for its own security. To preview our conclusions, every facet of Switzerland's security, whether against military threats, terrorism or natural disasters, today benefits from substantial international inputs. At base, Switzerland's increasing security dependence has been driven by the following dynamics: 1) the general development of institutionalized international cooperation; 2) the evolving nature of the threats Switzerland faces; and 3) political efforts to ''securitize'' issues not hitherto considered as security problems. Because Swiss security dependence owes more to broad structural factors than deliberate choices, policymakers would be better off embracing this reality by proactively using international organizations to address transnational challenges.

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Section: The Origins Of Security Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%