Swiss neutrality initiative revives debate over its historical meaning

Switzerland’s neutrality initiative seeks to define the principle more strictly in the federal constitution, but historians disagree over whether the country ever had a single traditional form of neutrality, SRF reports.

The initiative, formally titled “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality”, would largely ban economic sanctions. If approved, Switzerland would generally be allowed to support only sanctions adopted by the United Nations Security Council.

It would also prohibit Switzerland from joining a military or defence alliance. Cooperation with such alliances would be permitted only after a direct military attack on Switzerland or to repel an immediately imminent attack.

The initiative was launched by the association Pro Schweiz and several figures from the Swiss People’s Party. It achieved the required support in summer 2024. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend rejecting it.

Before international recognition

Long before the modern Swiss federal state was founded in 1848, the Old Swiss Confederacy tried to stay out of other countries’ conflicts. Historian Sacha Zala, director of the Research Centre for Swiss Diplomatic Documents, said the term “neutrality” was not used at the time. Instead, people spoke of “stillsitzen”, or “sitting still”.

The policy sought to prevent the Confederacy from being drawn into foreign wars, although it differed considerably from the modern understanding of neutrality. The Confederacy generally stayed out of wars while profiting from military service. Thousands of Swiss men fought as mercenaries for different European rulers over many years.

Zala said this showed that the policy was driven above all by practical and economic considerations. By staying out of conflicts, the Confederacy could provide mercenaries to different sides and profit from the arrangement.

The Congress of Vienna

After Napoleon’s defeat, European powers renegotiated the continent’s political order at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Switzerland’s “perpetual neutrality” was recognised under international law for the first time.

Zala described this primarily as a project of the European great powers. For reasons of power politics, they wanted to create a stable buffer state between France and Austria.

Historian René Roca, who co-authored the neutrality initiative, rejects that interpretation. He argues that Switzerland’s self-image as a neutral entity had already developed before 1815 and was merely confirmed internationally at the Congress of Vienna.