Sicherheit 2012 - Center for Security Studies (CSS) - ETH Zürich

Sicherheit 2012
to its neutrality, Switzerland is not involved in international conflicts, whereby the
approval rate has increased significantly in the course of the year. 52% (–3%) see in
the “armed neutrality” a contribution to Europe’s stabilization. Only a minority of
23% (–5%) holds the believe that “membership of a European defense alliance would
bring us more security than the adherence to neutrality”, whereby this approval has
decreased statistically significantly in the course of the year.
Critical assessment of neutrality: Also, within the framework of a critical assessment,
neutrality experiences a positive judgment. Thus, the majority of the Swiss
population does not view Switzerland’s international maneuverability affected by
the neutrality principle. 32% (–3%) view in Switzerland’s neutrality an obstacle to
economic cooperation with other European nations. Likewise, only a minority
holds the belief that neutrality is made impossible due to Switzerland’s close political
and economic interdependence with other European nations (32%, +3%). Merely
18% (–1%) of the respondents think that neutrality should be abandoned if it has
no more advantage. This low approval indicates that neutrality is perceived as a
value by itself and not necessarily as a means to an end by a large majority of the
Swiss population. Regarding the credibility of armed neutrality, in 2011, still an
equal number of respondents doubted and affirmed it. However, in January 2012,
more Swiss accept the credibility of armed neutrality as given than deny it (49%
approval, 45% rejection, +4% positive assessment).
Strategic culture: For the first time in this survey series, it was surveyed how important
different convictions of Switzerland’s strategic culture are considered. Surveys
within the framework of the trend survey “Security” have shown that Swiss neutrality
is more than a security strategy or a possible course of action. It also represents
a normative value, which is borne by a large part of the community. Meanwhile,
an integral understanding of neutrality finds no majority in the Swiss population.
Merely 47% believe that it is important “that we do not influence the events of
global politics”. Instead, a majority of 64% support the principle of differential
neutrality, which includes foreign-policy positioning but not the involvement in
military interventions. Besides neutrality, direct democratic principles are firmly
established in the Swiss community. Thus, 78% of the respondents approve of “…
that Swiss people get the final word also in military issues”. Regarding the defense
of international interests vis-à-vis other nations, four out of five people consider
ensuring internal peace relevant (77%). There also exists the opinion by a majority
in the Swiss population, as a small state, to have to vehemently defend one’s own
interests vis-à-vis big nations (67%). 62% of Swiss view the nation’s defense as a
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