61340 Vorabseiten_e - Unabhängige Expertenkommission Schweiz

sphere of influence through secret accords in the style of the nineteenth century.
The founding of the United Nations in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 was the
organisational implementation of the principles enshrined in the Atlantic
Charter and an attempt to avert future catastrophes such as the recent World
War. On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly met in
Paris and adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with its 30
articles. The enthusiasm for this initially non-binding document may seem
surprising, given that the anti-Hitler coalition of the war years had already
collapsed by this point. This step merely held out an initial promise whose
fulfilment is still being struggled for today.
2.2 Swiss Domestic Policy and Economy
The situation in Switzerland was largely determined by the international
context described above. Here, too, the social crisis, economic depression and
authoritarian shift in politics were apparent, as were the diverse effects of war.
In contrast to neighbouring countries, however, Switzerland had not been
conquered, nor had it taken any direct part in military conflicts. Apparently just
an observer, Switzerland’s image as an «island of peace» in a «Europe of ruins»
took on a suggestive power – not only within its borders, but also abroad. 2 The
major ideological and social debates had, however, also left their mark on Swiss
society.
A small neutral state – an economic power
The debate about Switzerland’s role in Europe and in the global context always
takes place on the tightrope between Switzerland’s (self-)image as a «small
neutral state» focussed on its «peace mission» and «good services», and the
contrasting image of a very successful economic power which was able to
establish a strong position during the industrialisation process. The two dimensions
were complementary and mutually reinforcing. This was especially
apparent during the two World Wars. The small neutral state which was able
to stay outside the hostilities proudly pointed to the humanitarian aid it had
supplied, but it also benefited from specific opportunities to make profit in the
financial services sector, and from the supply of industrial products to the
warring countries. This privileged position was also an ongoing source of difficulties
in its dealing with the warring parties which, as in the First World War,
began to intervene to a significant degree in Switzerland’s internal affairs or –
as with the Allies in the Second World War – showed limited understanding of
the neutral country’s economic serviceability.
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