Switzerland

Switzerland ( German , die Schweiz ; French , la Suisse ; Italian , Svizzera ; Romansh , Svizra ), officially known as the Swiss Confederation ( Confœderatio Helvetica in Latin , hence its ISO codes are CH and CHE), is a landlocked country located in central Europe and with a population of 7,725,200 inhabitants (2009). ^[1] Switzerland is a federal republic of 26 states, called cantons . Bern is the seat of the federal authorities, while the country’s financial centers are located in the cities of Zurich , Basel and Geneva . Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world based on its GDP per capita , which amounts to US$ 67,384 . ^[2] For their part, Zurich and Geneva are in second place among the cities with the best quality of life in the world. ^[3]

Switzerland is bordered to the north by Germany , to the west by France , to the south by Italy , and to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein . The country is characterized by its neutral foreign relations policy , having not actively participated in any international conflict since 1815, and is the headquarters of several international organizations, including the Red Cross , the World Trade Organization and one of the two offices of the UN in Europe . Switzerland is not a member of the European Union but has been part of the Schengen area since 2005 ; It is a multilingual nation and has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. The date of creation of Switzerland as a nation was set on August 1 , 1291 according to tradition, which is why the national holiday is celebrated on that same day every year.

Today, Switzerland is perceived as one of the most developed countries in the world. Due to its policy of neutrality, the country hosts a large number of immigrants from nations on several continents, which is why it is considered one of the European countries with the greatest cultural diversity . Finally, it is internationally recognized for its mountains , clocks , chocolates , banks , trains and cheeses . ^[4]

Summary

[ disguise ]

• 1 Etymology
• 2 History
  • 1 Early history
  • 2 Former Swiss Confederation
  • 3 Napoleonic era
  • 4 Federal State
  • 5 Modern history
• 3 Policy
  • 1 Direct democracy
  • 2 Cantons
  • 3 Foreign relations and international institutions
  • 4 Armed Forces
• 4 Geography
• 5 Economy
  • 1 Infrastructure and environment
• 6 Education, science and technology
• 7 Demographics
  • 1 Languages
  • 2 Health
  • 3 Urbanization
  • 4 Religion
• 8 Culture
  • 1 Literature
  • 2 Media
  • 3 Media
  • 4 Gastronomy
  • 5 Sports
• 9 See also
• 10 References
• 11 External links
• 12 Fonts

Etymology

The name Switzerland comes from the word Schwyz , the name of one of the Waldstätten cantons that formed the core of the Old Swiss Confederation. ^[5] The place name of the canton dates back to the year 972 and comes from the Old High German Suittes , a word related to the word suedan which means “to burn”, referring to a forested area that was burned to build some homes in the area. ^[6] The use of the name for this area spread to name the entire canton, and after the Swabian War in 1499 it was gradually used to name the entire confederation. Switzerland’s German name for the country, Schwiiz , is homonymous with that of the canton and its capital, so to distinguish itself a definite article in d’Schwiiz is used to refer to the country and the simple form Schwiiz for the canton and the city. .

The country’s ancient name, Helvetia , comes from the word Helvetii , a Celtic tribe that inhabited the Swiss plateau before Roman times . The first mention of the name Helvetti dates back to 300 BC. C. ^[7] The Neo-Latin names Confoederatio Helvetica or Helvetia were introduced when Switzerland became a federal state in 1848, dating back to the Helvetic Republic .

History

Landscapes of Switzerland

Early history

The oldest human remains that exist in Switzerland date back to approximately 150,000 years ago. ^[8] Likewise, the oldest agricultural tools were found in Gächlingen and are estimated to date back to 5300 BC. C. ^[8]

The oldest known tribes in the area belong to the Hallstatt and La Tène cultures , named after the archaeological site of La Tène , located north of Lake Neuchâtel . The La Tène culture flourished in the late Iron Age , around 450 BC. C., ^[9] possibly under the influence of the Greek and Etruscan civilizations . One of the most important ethnic groups in the region of Switzerland were the Helvetii . In 58 BC C., at the Battle of Bibracte , Julius Caesar ‘s forces defeated the Helvetii. ^[10] In the year 15 BC. C., Tiberius , who would later become emperor of Rome, and Drusus the Elder , conquered the Alps, integrating them into the growing Roman Empire . The area occupied by the Helvetians, from which the name Confoederatio Helvetica comes , became part of the Roman province of Gallia Belgica and later the province Germania Superior , while the eastern portion of modern Switzerland was integrated into the Roman province of Raetia .

In the Early Middle Ages , from the 4th century , the western part of present-day Switzerland was part of the territory of the Kingdom of Burgundy . The Alemanni settled on the Swiss plateau in the 5th century AD. C. and in the valleys of the Alps in the 8th century , forming Alemannia , and leaving the current territory of Switzerland divided between the kingdoms of Burgundy and Alemannia. ^[11] In the 6th century, the entire region became part of the Frankish Empire following Clovis I ‘s victory over the Alemanni at Tolbiac in 504. Later the Franks would also dominate the Burgundians.

Between the 6th and 8th centuries Switzerland continued under Frankish hegemony (the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties ). In 843 , after reaching its maximum extent under the reign of Charlemagne , the Frankish empire was divided in the Treaty of Verdun . ^[11] The territory of present-day Switzerland was divided between Eastern France and Middle France until it was unified by the Holy Roman Empire in the 11th century. ^[eleven]

By 1200 , the Swiss plateau comprised the domains of the houses of Savoy , Zähringer , Habsburg and Kyburg . ^[12] Some regions ( Uri , Schwyz and Unterwalden , later known as Waldstätten ) were annexed as imperial environs to ensure the empire’s control over the mountain passes . When the Kyburg dynasty fell in 1264 , the Habsburgs under King Rudolf I , who was Holy Roman Emperor in 1273, extended their territory east of the Swiss plateau.

Former Swiss Confederation

The Former Swiss Confederation was an alliance made by the communities of the central valleys of the Alps . The Confederacy facilitated the development of various common interests ( free trade ) and ensured peace on the main mercantile routes in the mountains. The Federal Charter of 1291 signed by the rural communities of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden is considered the document that laid the foundations for the founding of the confederation, although it is likely that similar alliances had already existed for decades prior. ^[13] [14]

By 1353 , the three original cantons had united with the cantons of Glarus and Zug , and with the city-states of Lucerne , Zurich and Bern to form the Old Confederation of eight states that existed until the end of the 15th century. Territorial expansion helped increase the power and wealth of the confederacy. ^[14] By 1460 , the Confederates controlled much of the territory south and west of the Rhine River to the Alps mountain range. In 1499 Switzerland’s victory over the Swabian League and the House of Habsburg in the Swabian War resulted in de facto independence from the Holy Empire. ^[14]

The Old Swiss Confederation had acquired a reputation as invincible during these wars, but the Confederacy’s expansion suffered a setback in 1515, with defeat at the Battle of Marignano . This marked the end of the so-called “heroic” era in Swiss history. ^[14] The success of Ulrich Zwingli ‘s Reformation in some cantons led to several internal wars in the country between 1529 and 1531 ( Kappeler Kriege ). Only in 1648, more than a century after these wars, Johann Rudolf Wettstein , as envoy of the Swiss Confederation, achieved through skillful negotiations that the signatory powers of the Treaty of Westphalia officially recognized the independence of Switzerland with respect to the Holy Roman Empire and its neutrality in wars ( Ancien Régime ).

The 16th and 17th centuries were characterized by the growing authoritarianism of the ruling families. In 1653, this situation, combined with the financial crisis brought by the Thirty Years’ War , produced the outbreak of the Swiss Peasants’ War . Added to this, there remained the religious conflict between the Catholic cantons and the Protestant cantons that between 1656 and 1712 led to violent clashes such as the Battle of Villmergen . ^[14]

Napoleonic era

In 1798, the forces of the French Revolution conquered Switzerland and imposed a new constitution. ^[14] This constitution centralized the government and abolished the cantons, and both the territory of Mulhouse and the Valtellina valley were separated from Switzerland. The new regime , known as the Helvetic Republic , was very unpopular. It had been imposed by an invading army, destroying centuries of customs and traditions and turning Switzerland into a satellite state of France. The strong repression carried out by France during the Nidwalden rebellion (September 1798) was an example of the oppressive presence of the French army and local resistance to the occupation.

When war broke out between France and its rivals, Russian and Austrian forces invaded Switzerland. The Swiss people refused to fight alongside the French in the name of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803, Napoleon arranged a meeting with Swiss political leaders in Paris ; The result of this meeting was the document called the ” Mediation Act “, which largely reestablished the autonomy of Switzerland and the Confederation of 19 cantons. ^[14] Since then, much of Swiss policy would be aimed at balancing the tradition of autonomous cantons with the need for a central government.

In 1815, the Congress of Vienna fully restored Switzerland’s independence, and the European powers agreed to permanently recognize the country’s neutrality. ^[14] Swiss troops served various governments until 1860, when they fought at the siege of Gaeta . The treaty also increased the territorial extent of Switzerland, with the annexation of the cantons of Valais , Neuchâtel and Geneva . The boundaries of Switzerland have not changed since then.

Federal state

The canton of Bern was one of the three cantons that presided over the Tagsatzung (former executive and legislative council) along with Lucerne and Zurich. The canton’s capital was chosen as the federal capital in 1848, mainly due to its proximity to the French-speaking area of ​​the country.

The restoration of power in Switzerland was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes, such as that at Züriputsch in 1839, civil war broke out in 1847 when some of the Catholic cantons tried to establish an alliance among themselves ( Sonderbundskrieg ). ^[14] The war lasted less than a month causing fewer than one hundred casualties, most of which were due to friendly fire . The Sonderbundskrieg seems very small compared to other conflicts that existed in 19th century Europe and in the history of Swiss society.

The war showed the inhabitants of Switzerland the need for unity to strengthen themselves against their European neighbors. Swiss of all social strata, whether Catholic, Protestant, liberal or conservative, realized that the cantons would progress more if they merged their economic and religious interests.

Thus, while the rest of Europe was in the midst of revolutions and wars, the Swiss enacted a more modern constitution, which gave the government a federal design, largely inspired by the American model . This constitution imposed a central authority, leaving the cantons the right to govern themselves and resolve local issues. Furthermore the national assembly was divided into an upper house (the Council of States of Switzerland , with two representatives from each canton) and a lower house ( National Council of Switzerland , with elected representatives from the entire country). To introduce changes to the constitution, it became mandatory to hold a referendum .

A unique system of weights and measures was also implemented, and in 1850 the Swiss franc became the country’s only official currency . Article 11 of the constitution prohibited the sending of troops abroad, although in 1860 the Swiss army was forced to participate at the side of Francis II of the Two Sicilies in the siege of Gaeta .

One of the most important clauses of the constitution was the one that stated that it could be completely rewritten if the occasion demanded it, this way the constitution would fully evolve instead of being modified year after year. ^[15] This feature of the constitution became very useful with the advent of the Industrial Revolution , when several proclaimed that it was time to amend the constitution. A first draft was rejected by the population in 1872, but two years later the modifications were accepted. ^[14] It was here that an optional referendum was introduced for the creation and modification of laws at the federal level. Rules were also established that regulated the military, trade, and other legal matters. Finally, in 1891, the constitution was revised again and an unusual system of direct democracy was implemented , which remains unique to this day. ^[14]

modern history

Switzerland was not invaded in either world war. During the First World War , Switzerland gave asylum to Vladimir Illych Ulyanov ( Lenin ) where he remained until 1917. In 1917 Switzerland’s neutrality was seriously questioned by the scandal involving Robert Grimm and Arthur Hoffmann , when they tried to create a truce between Russia and Germany. . However, in 1920, Switzerland joined the League of Nations , which had its headquarters in Geneva, with the only condition that it would be free of all military requirements.

During World War II , the German army made detailed invasion plans, ^[16] but never invaded Switzerland. ^[14] The country was able to maintain its independence thanks to a combination of military deterrents, concessions to Germany, and very good luck in military operations that delayed the German invasion. There were also attempts by the Swiss Nazi Party to annex the country to Germany, but they failed. The Swiss press harshly criticized the Third Reich , frequently insulting its leader. Switzerland was an important spy base for both sides during the conflict, and often acted as a mediator in communications between the Allies and Axis forces . The International Red Cross , based in Geneva, played a very important role during this and other conflicts.

Trade in Switzerland was blocked by the Allies and the Axis countries. Economic cooperation and expanded credit for the Third Reich varied depending on the risk of invasion and the availability of other trading partners. The concessions reached their peak after a railway line connecting the country to Vichy France was cut, leaving Switzerland completely surrounded by the Axis. In the course of the war, Switzerland received more than 300,000 refugees, of which 104,000 were from foreign troops, who were accepted according to the Rights and Obligations of Neutral Countries , a document signed at the Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907 ; 60,000 of the refugees were civilians escaping Nazi persecution. Of these, around 27,000 were Jews . However, strict immigration and asylum policies, as well as financial relations with Nazi Germany, generated controversy. ^[17] During the war, the Swiss Air Force fought aircraft from both sides. In May and June 1940, they shot down eleven Luftwaffe aircraft that had invaded Swiss airspace, forcing other intruding aircraft to withdraw after a change in policy in relations with Germany. More than one hundred Allied bombers and their crews were sheltered during the war. In 1944, the Allies mistakenly bombed the cities of Schaffhausen (killing forty people), Stein am Rhein , Vals and Rafz (killing eighteen), as well as Basel and Zurich on 4 March 1945.

In 1959, women received the right to vote in some cantons, this becoming federal law in 1971. ^[14] In 1963, Switzerland joined the Council of Europe . In the late 1970s , a part of the canton of Bern separated and created the new canton of Jura . In 1984, Elisabeth Kopp was the first woman in the Swiss Federal Council and it was in 1999 that the first woman, Ruth Dreifuss, became president . On April 18 of that same year, the Swiss population voted in favor of a complete revision of the federal constitution. ^[14]

In 2002, Switzerland became a full member of the UN , leaving Vatican City the only recognized State not to have full UN membership. Switzerland was one of the founders of the EFTA , but is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). An application for membership was submitted to the European Union in May 1992, but did not proceed when access to the EEA was rejected in a referendum in December of that year. ^[14] Since then, multiple referendums and votes have been held on Switzerland’s accession to the European Union, but due to the various reactions that the population has had, the process of obtaining membership has been stopped. However, Swiss law has been gradually changing to conform to what the European Union and the Swiss government claim are a series of bilateral agreements . Switzerland and Liechtenstein have been completely surrounded by the European Union since Austria ‘s accession in 1995. On June 5, 2005, 55% of Swiss voters agreed to join the Schengen Treaty , a result that has been cataloged by the Union European Union as a sign of support from Switzerland, a country that is traditionally perceived as independent or isolationist .

Policy

The federal constitution of 1848 is the legal foundation of the modern federal state and the second oldest constitution still in force worldwide. ^[18] A new version of the constitution was adopted in 1999, but it did not introduce any notable changes to the federal structure. This delimits the basic rights and obligations of citizens, their active participation in politics, divides power between the confederation and the cantons and defines federal authorities and jurisdictions. There are three main governing bodies at the federal level: ^[18] the bicameral parliament (legislative branch), the Federal Council (executive branch) and the Swiss Federal Supreme Court or Federal Supreme Court (judicial branch). The function of the Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals against cantonal or federal courts. The judges or magistrates are elected by the Federal Assembly for a period of six years.

The Swiss Parliament is made up of two chambers: the Council of States , which has 46 representatives (two from each canton and one from each semi-canton), who are elected by each canton under its own system; and the National Council , which consists of 200 members elected under a system of proportional representation , depending on the population of each canton. The members of the two chambers are elected every four years. When both houses are in joint session they are known as the Federal Assembly . Through referendums, citizens can reject or accept any law coming from parliament, and through initiatives introduce new points to the federal constitution, making Switzerland a direct democracy . ^[18]

The Federal Council constitutes the federal government , directs the Federal Administration and acts as head of state . It is made up of seven members elected for a four-year term by the Federal Assembly, which also oversees the actions of the council. The president of the Confederation is elected by the assembly from among the seven members of the council, traditionally in rotation and only for a period of one year; The president heads the government and assumes its representative functions. However, the president is a primus inter pares with no additional powers, and remains at the head of his department during his administration. ^[18]

Since 1959, the Swiss federal government has been made up of a coalition of the four main political parties, each having a number of seats that hardly reflects their popularity with voters and the number of representatives in parliament. From 1959 to 2003, the classic distribution of 2 CVP/PDC, 2 SPS/PSS, 2 FDP/PRD and 1 SVP/UDC was known as the “magic formula” ( Zauberformel ). In the 2007 elections, the seven seats of the Federal Council were distributed as follows:

2 Social Democrats (SPS/PSS)

2 Liberal Democrats (FDP/PRD)

2 Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC)

1 Christian Democrats (CVP/PDC).

direct democracy

Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the commune, the canton and the confederation. The federal constitution of 1848 defines a system of direct democracy (sometimes called semi-direct or direct representative democracy because it has greater similarity to institutions of a parliamentary democracy ). The instruments of Swiss direct democracy at the federal level, known as civil rights ( Volksrechte o droits civiques ), include the right to draw up a “constitutional initiative” and to a referendum , both of which can influence parliamentary decisions. ^[18]

Through a referendum , a group of citizens can challenge a law that has been approved by parliament if they can obtain more than 50,000 signatures that are against the law within a period of one hundred days. If it succeeds, a national vote is held where it is decided by a simple majority whether the law is rejected or not. Eight united cantons can also hold a referendum for the approval of a federal law. ^[18]

Similarly, the “constitutional initiative” allows citizens to request that a constitutional amendment be put to a vote if they can obtain 100,000 signatures supporting the amendment within 18 months. Parliament can complement the proposed amendment with a counterproposal, where voters will have to indicate their preference on the ballots, if both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether popular or parliamentary initiative, must be accepted by a double majority of the national vote and the cantonal vote. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

Cantons

Its population varies between the 15,000 inhabitants of the canton of Appenzell Inner Rhodes and the 1.2 million inhabitants of the canton of Zurich , while its area varies between 37 km² in Basel-Stadt and 7,100 km² in Graubünden . The cantons comprise a total of 2,889 municipalities . Within Switzerland there are two enclaves : Büsingen belonging to Germany and Campione d’Italia belonging to Italy.

On 11 May 1919, in a referendum organized in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg , more than 80% of the population voted in favor of the state joining the Swiss Confederation. However, opposition from the Austrian government , the Allies , the Swiss Liberals , the Swiss-Italians and the Romans , prevented the annexation of the state.

Foreign relations and international institutions

Switzerland traditionally avoids all alliances that might involve military, political or economic action and has been neutral since its expansion in 1515. ^[22] It was not until 2002 that Switzerland became a full member of the UN , ^[22] but it was the first State to join the organization after a referendum. Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with almost all nations and has historically acted as an intermediary for other states. ^[22] Switzerland is not a member of the European Union ; The Swiss population has rejected membership since the early 1990s . ^[22]

Swiss Embassy in Havana

A high number of international institutions are based in Switzerland, due in part to its policy of neutrality. The Red Cross was founded in 1863, and has its operations center in the country. Despite the fact that Switzerland is one of the most recent countries to join the UN, Geneva is home to the organization’s second largest headquarters, only after the one located in New York . Apart from the UN headquarters, Geneva is also the headquarters of several UN organizations, such as the WHO and ITU , in addition to 200 other international organizations. ^[22] Furthermore, many sports federations and organizations are based in the country, such as the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne , the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in Les Avants , the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in Zurich and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in Nyon .

Armed forces

The Swiss Armed Forces consist of the Swiss army and the Swiss Air Force . As Switzerland is a landlocked country , it does not have a navy, but on the neighboring lakes the army uses armed boats. The peculiarity of the Swiss Army is the militia system . Professional soldiers make up only 5% of military personnel. The rest are enlisted citizens between 20 and 34 years old. Swiss citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign troops, with the exception of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican .

The Swiss military structure stipulates that soldiers must keep their own equipment at home, including the famous Swiss army knife and their personal weapons. Some organizations and political parties find this practice controversial and dangerous. At the age of 19, military service is mandatory for all male citizens; women can serve voluntarily. About two-thirds of Swiss youth are declared fit for service; while those who are not must pay a special tax instead of making it. Annually, about 20,000 people are trained for combat in an 18- to 21-week course. The “Army XXI” reform was adopted by popular vote in 2009, and replaced the old “Army 95” model, reducing the number of troops from 400,000 to 200,000. Of these, 120,000 are active soldiers and 80,000 reservists.

In total, only three general mobilizations have been declared to ensure the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland. The first was due to the Franco-Prussian War between 1870 and 1871. The second was decided in response to the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914. The third mobilization took place in September 1939 in response to the German invasion of Poland. , and Henri Guisan was elected General-in-Chief.

Due to its neutrality, the army cannot take part in armed conflicts in other countries, but has participated in several peace missions around the world. Since 2000, the Department of Defense has also used the Onyx intelligence system to monitor satellite communications. After the end of the Cold War there have been numerous attempts to reduce military activity and even disband the army. One of the most important referendums on this issue took place on November 26, 1959 and, although it was not approved, it showed that a high percentage of the Swiss population is in favor of such initiatives. ^[23]

Geography

Stretching over the northern and southern slopes of the Alps , Switzerland encompasses a wide variety of landforms and climates in a limited area of ​​41,285 km² . ^[24] The total population is about 7.6 million inhabitants, resulting in a population density of 240 h/km². ^{[25] [24] [26] [27]} The southern part of the country is mountainous and less densely populated than the northern part, where the terrain, partly forested and partly cleared, has the presence of several lakes. ^[24]

Switzerland can be divided into three basic topographic areas: the Swiss Alps in the south, the Swiss Plateau in the center, and the Jura Mountains in the north. ^[24] The Alps are a range of high mountains that run through the center and south of the country, occupying about 60% of the total surface. Among the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps, the largest being Punta Dufour ( Dufourspitze ) with 4,634 meters above sea level (masl), ^[24] there are multiple valleys, with waterfalls and glaciers . These form the headwaters of some of the most important rivers in Europe, such as the Rhine , the Rhône , the Eno , the Aar and the Ticino . Other rivers flow through the country and flow into the large lakes in the national territory such as Lake Geneva , Lake Zurich , Lake Neuchâtel or Lake Constance . ^[24]

One of the most famous mountains in the country is the Matterhorn (4,478 meters above sea level) in the Pennine Alps , forming part of the border with Italy. Other of the highest mountains in the country are found in that area: Punta Dufour (4,634 meters above sea level), the Dom (4,545 meters above sea level) and the Weisshorn (4,506 meters above sea level). In the section of the Bernese Alps , north of Lauterbrunnen , is a valley with 72 waterfalls, also known for the Jungfrau (4,158 meters above sea level) and Eiger (3,970 meters above sea level), and other of the most picturesque valleys in the region. In the southeast, the Engadine Valley stands out, where the commune of Sankt Moritz is located , and the highest peak in the area is Piz Bernina (4,049 m). ^[28]

The northern part of the country is the most populated, occupying about 30% of the country’s surface, it is also called plateau or Middle Earth ( Mittelland ). It has wide valleys with hills, forests and grasslands, usually used for agriculture and livestock. It is in this area where the largest cities and lakes in Switzerland are located. ^[28] The largest lake in the country is Lake Geneva , located in the western part and shared with France.

The climate is generally temperate , but can vary greatly from locality to locality, ^[29] from glacial conditions at the top of the mountains to an almost Mediterranean climate in the south of the country. Summers are usually hot and humid with periodic rains that help the development of agriculture in the region. Winters in the mountains alternate days of sun and snow , while the lower lands tend to have cloudy and foggy days. A climatological phenomenon called the Föhn Effect ^[29] can occur at any time of the year, even in winter, and is characterized by the passage of warm Mediterranean air through the Alps from Italy. The areas with the least rainfall are the southern valleys in the Valais , ^[29] where valuable saffron is cultivated and vineyards are grown for wine production. Graubünden also tends to be drier and slightly colder, ^[29] although it sometimes receives heavy snowfall in winter. The country’s wettest conditions persist in the heights of the Alps and in the canton of Ticino , where rain and snowfall are abundant. ^[29] The eastern zone tends to be colder than the western zone of the country, in addition to the fact that rainfall is usually scarce throughout the year, with minor variations between the seasons. Autumn is usually the driest season in the country, although weather patterns in Switzerland can vary greatly from year to year, making it very difficult to predict.

Switzerland’s ecosystems can be particularly vulnerable, which is because the many delicate valleys separated by mountains often form unique ecosystems. The mountainous regions themselves are also vulnerable, with a wide range of plants not found at those altitudes in other parts of the world, but which face mistreatment from visitors and livestock.

Economy

Switzerland has one of the most stable, powerful and modern capitalist economies in the world, ^[30] ranking in the top ten according to the 2009 Index of Economic Freedom. Switzerland’s nominal GDP per capita is higher than that of most countries. European economies, second only to that of Luxembourg , Norway , Qatar , Iceland and Ireland . The country’s official currency is the Swiss franc (CHF).

Switzerland’s purchasing power parity (PPP) index is among the top fifteen in the world. The World Economic Forum ‘s competitiveness report places Switzerland’s economy as the second most competitive in the world. For much of the 20th century, Switzerland was the richest country in Europe by a considerable margin. ^[30]

Switzerland is home to some of the largest multinational corporations in the world. Switzerland’s largest companies are Glencore , Nestlé , Novartis , Hoffmann-La Roche , ABB and Adecco . Also notable are UBS AG , Zurich Financial Services , Credit Suisse Group , Swiss Re and the watch groups Swatch and Richemont .

Among the most important economic activities in Switzerland are the chemical industry , the pharmaceutical industry , the manufacturing of musical and measuring instruments , real estate , financial services and tourism . The country’s main exports are chemical products (34% of exported goods), electronic machinery (20.9%) and precision instruments and watches (16.9%). ^[31] Exported services account for one third of exported goods. ^[31]

The economically active population reaches 3.8 million people. Switzerland has a more flexible labor market than neighboring countries and the unemployment rate remains low. However, the unemployment rate increased from 1.7% in June 2000 to 3.9% in September 2004. In April 2009 the unemployment rate had fallen to 3.4%, partly due to the rise in the economy that began in mid-2003. ^[31]

The private sector in the Swiss economy is immense, plus the country has low tax rates by Western standards; being one of the lowest in developed countries . Switzerland’s slow economic growth in the 1990s and early 2000s brought with it a series of economic reforms to adapt to the European Union model. ^[32] According to Credit Suisse , only 37% of the country’s inhabitants own their own home, one of the lowest rates in all of Europe. The increase in food and real estate prices were 145 and 171% in 2007, while in Germany they were 104 and 113%. ^[31] Agricultural protectionism , a rare exception to Swiss free trade policy, contributes to rising food prices. According to the OECD , market liberalization is holding back some European economies such as Switzerland. ^[32] However, the Swiss PPP is one of the highest in the world. ^[33] Aside from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal and the country has signed multiple free trade agreements with other countries around the world.

Infrastructure and environment

The electricity generated in Switzerland comes 56% from hydroelectric plants , 34% from nuclear plants and 5% from thermal plants and other conventional fuels such as coal . ^{[3. 4]}

On May 18, 2003, two antinuclear initiatives were rejected : “Moratorium Plus”, which called for the cessation of the construction of new nuclear power plants (41.6% in favor and 58.4% against), ^[35] and “Electricity Without Nuclear Energy” (33.7% in favor and 66.3% against). The former ten-year moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants was the result of a citizen initiative in 1990, in which the yes won with 54.5% of the votes, against the no, which obtained 45.5%. . The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is responsible for responding to and addressing all complaints and queries regarding the supply and use of energy, together with the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). These agencies support the concept of the ” 2000 Watt Society ” to reduce the country’s energy consumption by more than half by 2050.

The administration of Swiss roads is financed through toll plazas and vehicle taxes. The Swiss motorway system requires the payment of a toll, worth CHF 40 , for one year, for both passenger and freight vehicles. The Swiss road network has a length of 1,638 km (2000) and an approximate area of ​​41,290 km², making Switzerland one of the countries with the largest number of motorways in proportion to its size. The largest airport in the country is Zurich International Airport , which handled more than 20.7 million passengers in 2007. This is followed by Geneva International Airport with 10.8 million passengers and Basel Airport. Mulhouse with 4.3 million passengers, both airports are shared with France.

The railway network has 5,063 km, transporting more than 350 million passengers annually. ^[36] In 2007, each Swiss citizen had traveled an average of 2,103 km by train. The railway network is mainly managed by the SBB-CFF-FFS , except in much of Graubünden, where the 366 km of narrow gauges are operated by the Rhaetian Railway , which includes some lines that are World Heritage Sites . The construction of tunnels through the Alps has reduced the duration of journeys between north and south.

Switzerland is highly active in terms of recycling and anti-pollution regulations, being one of the largest recyclers in the world, with a utilization of recyclable materials ranging from 66% to 96%. ^[37] In many places in Switzerland, neighborhood garbage collection is not free. Garbage (except hazardous materials, batteries, etc.) is collected only if it is in bags with a sticker showing payment, or in official bags provided when depositing payment for the service. ^[38] This provides an economic incentive to recycle, since recycling is free. Health officials and the police check garbage deposits to look for bags where payment for the service is not verified, as well as old accounts and receipts that may give clues to where those bags came from. Fines for not paying the garbage collection system range from 200 to 500 CHF.

Its economy has benefited from the fact that overthrown Third World dictators in their countries have deposited money embezzled during their governments in Swiss financial institutions.

Education, science and technology

Education in Switzerland is very diverse because the country’s constitution delegates authority over the school system to each canton . ^[39] There are public and private schools, including many internationally renowned schools. In all cantons, the minimum age to enter primary school is six years. ^[39] Primary school consists of four or six grades, depending on each school. Traditionally, the first foreign language taught in primary schools was one of the other national languages, although in 2000 English classes began to be taught in some cantons . ^[39] At the end of primary school (or at the beginning of secondary school ), students are separated into several groups (often three) according to their intellectual abilities. Those who learn faster are enrolled in advanced classes to prepare for the matura or baccalaureate exam and for more specific studies, ^[39] while schoolchildren who assimilate knowledge a little more slowly receive an education more appropriate to their needs.

There are 12 universities in Switzerland, ten of them are administered at the cantonal level and usually offer non-technical degrees. The country’s first university was founded in 1460 in Basel (with a Faculty of Medicine), and is reputed to be one of the best centers for chemical and medical research in Switzerland. The largest university in the country is the University of Zurich with about 25,000 students. The two federally run institutes, the ETH in Zurich (founded 1855) and the EPFL in Lausanne (founded 1969, formerly associated with the University of Lausanne ), enjoy an excellent international reputation. In 2008, ETH Zurich was among the top fifteen institutes in the field of Natural Sciences and Mathematics according to a list published by Shanghai Jiao Tong University , ^[40] while EPFL was ranked 18th in the Engineering/Technology category. and computer science . In addition, there are several universities of applied sciences . Switzerland has the second highest rate of foreign students in tertiary education, behind only Australia.

There are several Swiss scientists who have been awarded the Nobel Prize , for example the famous German-born physicist Albert Einstein , who developed the theory of relativity while working in Bern. More recently Vladimir Prelog , Heinrich Rohrer , Richard Ernst , Edmond Fischer , Rolf Zinkernagel and Kurt Wüthrich received the Nobel Prize in various sciences. In total, there are 113 Nobel Prize winners who have some connection to Switzerland and the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded nine times to organizations based in the country. ^[41]

Geneva is home to the world’s largest laboratory , CERN , dedicated to particle physics research . Another important research center is the Paul Scherrer Institute . Well-known inventions include LSD , the scanning tunneling microscope (Nobel Prize), and the popular Velcro . Some technologies aided the exploration of new worlds, such as Auguste Piccard ‘s pressurized balloon and Jacques Piccard ‘s bathyscaphe , which allowed him to reach the deepest point in the ocean.

The Swiss Space Agency, called the Swiss Space Office , was involved in the development of various space programs and technologies. In 1975 he was also one of the ten founders of the European Space Agency and is the seventh largest contributor to the ESA. In the private sector, several companies are involved in the space industry, such as Oerlikon Space and Maxon Motors.

Demography

In 2009, Switzerland had an estimated population of 7,725,200 inhabitants. ^[1] Foreigners who reside and work temporarily in the country make up 22% of the population. ^[42] The majority of them (60%) come from European Union or EFTA countries . ^[42] Italians are the largest foreign group in the country, making up 17.3% of the total foreign population. They are followed by Germans (13.2%), immigrants from Serbia and Montenegro (11.5%) and Portugal (11.3%). ^[42] Sri Lankan immigrants , most of them Tamil refugees , are the largest Asian group in the country. In the 2000s , national and international institutions have expressed concern about what they believe is an increase in xenophobia , particularly in some political campaigns. However, the high proportion of foreign citizens in the country, as well as the integration of foreign elements into Swiss culture, underline the openness of Swiss society.

Languages

Switzerland is located at the crossroads of some of the great European cultures, which have strongly influenced the country’s language and culture. Switzerland has four official languages : German (63.7% of the total population speaks it, along with foreigners residing in the country; 72.5% of residents with Swiss citizenship in 2000) in the north, east and center of the country; French (20.4%; 21.0%) in the west; and Italian (6.5%; 4.3%) in the south. Romansh , a Romance language that is spoken locally by a minority (0.5%; 0.6%) in the southeast , in the canton of Grisons, is designated by the federal constitution as a national language along with German, French and Italian (article 4 of the constitution), and as an official language if the authorities wish to communicate with people who speak this language (article 70), but federal laws and other official documents should not necessarily be written in this language. The federal government must communicate in the official languages, and in the federal parliament there is simultaneous translation in German, French and Italian.

The German spoken in Switzerland is predominantly a group of German dialects known as Swiss German , although Standard German is used in schools and written media . Most radio and television broadcasts are in Swiss German. Similarly, there are dialects of Franco-Provençal that are spoken in some rural communities in the French-speaking part, known as Romandie , among which are Vaudois , Gruérien , Jurassien , Empro , Fribourgeois and Neuchatelois . Finally, Tisinese (a Lombard dialect ) is spoken in the Italian part of the country . Furthermore, the three official languages ​​have some terms that are not understood outside of Switzerland, for example, words taken from another language (in German they use the word billette ^[43] which comes from French), or from similar words in another language ( In Italian the term azione is used not for action , but as to discount or reduce , which comes from the German Aktion ). Learning another of the national languages ​​is mandatory for all Swiss schoolchildren, so it is assumed that the majority of Swiss people are bilingual .

Health

In 2006, life expectancy at birth was 79 years for men and 84 years for women, ^[44] one of the highest in the world. ^[45] Swiss citizens have mandatory health insurance, allowing access to a wide variety of modern medical services. However, health care expenses are particularly high, since since 1990 there has been an increase in the amount of the budget used to cover medical expenses, which in 2003 accounted for 11.5% of GDP ; This situation has been reflected in the high prices of the services provided. ^[46] With an increasingly elderly population and new technologies in healthcare, these expenses are expected to continue to increase. ^[46]

Urbanization

Between two thirds and three quarters of the population lives in urban areas. ^[47] [48] Switzerland went from being a rural country to an urbanized one in just seventy years. Since 1935, urban development occupied a large part of the Swiss landscape unoccupied for the last 2,000 years. This urban sprawl not only affects the Swiss plateau, but also the Jura mountains and the Alps and land use concessions continue to increase. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, population growth is greater in urban areas than in any other area. ^[48]

Switzerland has a dense network of cities, where large, medium and small populations complement each other. ^[48] ​​The Swiss plateau is densely populated, with a relative population of 450 h/km ² and the landscape continually shows signs of the presence of man. The size of the largest metropolitan areas: Zurich , Geneva – Lausanne , Basel and Bern , tends to increase. ^[48] ​​In an international comparison the importance of these urban areas is greater than their number of inhabitants suggests. ^[48] ​​Furthermore, the two cities of Zurich and Geneva are recognized for the good quality of life they offer.

Religion

Switzerland has no official state religion , although most cantons (except Geneva and Neuchâtel ) recognize their own official churches. In all cases they include the Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Switzerland, which are financed by the church tax. These churches, and in some cantons the Old Catholic Church and Jewish congregations , are financed by tithes paid by believers.

Christianity is the predominant religion in Switzerland, divided between the Catholic Church (41.8% of the population) and various Protestant churches (40%) . Immigration has brought Islam (4.3%, predominant among Kosovars and Turks ) and the Orthodox Church (1.8%) as the most important religious minorities. ^[49] The 2005 Eurobarometer survey ^[50] announced that 48% of the Swiss interviewed were theists , 39% expressed belief in “a spirit or life force”, 9% were atheists and 4% were agnostic . On November 30, 2009, the Swiss people approved by referendum the ban on the construction of minarets in the country. ^[51]

The country has historically been divided between Catholics and Protestants, with a complex mix of territories with Catholic and Protestant majorities throughout the country. In 1597, the canton of Appenzell was officially divided into two for Catholics and Protestants. ^[52] The largest cities (Bern, Zurich and Basel) are predominantly Protestant. The center of the country, as well as Ticino, are traditionally Catholic. The federal constitution of 1848, under the recent impression of the clashes between Catholic and Protestant cantons that culminated in the Sonderbundskrieg , defined a consociational State, allowing peaceful coexistence between both groups. In 1980, an initiative to completely separate church and state was voted on but was rejected, with only 21.1% of the population in favor.

Culture

Switzerland’s culture is influenced by neighboring countries, but over the years it has developed a distinct and independent culture with some regional differences. In particular, French-speaking regions became more oriented towards French culture . ^[53] In general, the Swiss are known for their long humanitarian tradition , as Switzerland was the birthplace of the Red Cross movement and is home to the United Nations Human Rights Council . Similarly, in German Switzerland they are more oriented towards German culture , although speakers of Swiss German identify themselves strictly as Swiss due to the difference between High German and Swiss German dialects . In Italian Switzerland, Italian culture is mostly perceived . ^[53] In short, a region has a closer cultural connection with the neighboring country that shares its language. The linguistically isolated Romansh culture in the mountains of eastern Switzerland strives to keep its not only linguistic traditions alive. ^[53]

Many mountain areas are highly connected to the sporting cultures of skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Throughout the year, some areas have a leisure culture to attract tourism, even in spring and summer, in the quieter seasons, when there are fewer visitors and a greater Swiss presence. A traditional farming and farming culture also predominates in some areas and small farms remain ubiquitous on the outskirts of cities.

In cinema , American productions make up the vast majority of billboards, although several Swiss films have been commercially successful. Folk art is kept alive thanks to several organizations located throughout the national territory, where music , dance , poetry , wood carving and embroidery are encouraged . The Alpine horn , a trumpet made of wood, along with the yodel and the accordion , have become the international symbol of traditional Swiss music.

Literature

Since the confederation, since its founding in 1291, was composed almost exclusively of German-speaking regions, the first literary works are in German. In the 18th century, French became the language of fashion in Bern and other regions, while the influence of French-speaking allies and other territories became more marked than before.

Jeremiah Gotthelf

Classic authors of Swiss literature in German include Jeremias Gotthelf (1797-1854), Gottfried Keller (1819-1890) and Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825-1989). The three greatest representatives of Swiss literature of the 20th century are Robert Walser (1878-1956), Max Frisch (1911-1991) and Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-1990), author of Die Physiker ( The Physicists ) and Das Versprechen ( The Promise) . ). ^[54]

The most prominent French-speaking Swiss writers are Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), Germaine de Stael (1766-1817) and Benjamin Constant (1767-1830). More recent authors include Blaise Cendrars (born Frédéric Sauser, 1887-1961), Charles Ferdinand Ramuz (1878-1947), whose novels describe the lives of peasants living in mountainous areas in a decadent era, [ ^54] Gustave Roud (1897-1976) and Philippe Jaccottet (*1925). Italian and Romansh-speaking authors have also contributed to Swiss literature, but in a more modest way.

Probably the most famous creation of Swiss literature is Heidi , the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, one of the most popular children’s books in the world that has become a symbol of Switzerland. Its creator, Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), wrote other works with similar themes. ^[54]

Media

Freedom of the press and the right to free expression are recognized by the Swiss constitution. ^[55] The Swiss News Agency (SNA) broadcasts information on politics, society, economy and culture throughout the day in the three official languages. The SNA provides almost all the news about Switzerland, and several foreign news services collaborate with it. ^[55]

Historically, Switzerland has had the largest number of newspapers published in proportion to its population and size. ^[56] The most influential newspapers are the Tages-Anzeiger , the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (both in German) and Le Temps (in French), but almost every city has its local newspaper. The cultural diversity of the country contributes to the publication of multiple newspapers. ^[56]

In contrast to print media, broadcasters have always been largely under government control. ^[56] The Swiss Radio Broadcasting Company, whose name was recently changed to SRG SSR idée suisse , is responsible for producing and broadcasting several national radio and television programs. The SRG SSR studies are distributed across the different linguistic regions. Radio programs are produced in six central studios and four local studios, while television programs are made in Zurich ( SF ), Geneva ( TSR ), Lugano ( RTSI ) and Chur ( RTR ). A large cable broadcasting company also allows the Swiss population access to programs from neighboring countries. ^[56]

Media

Freedom of the press and the right to free expression are recognized by the Swiss constitution. ^[55] The Swiss News Agency (SNA) broadcasts information on politics, society, economy and culture throughout the day in the three official languages. The SNA provides almost all the news about Switzerland, and several foreign news services collaborate with it. ^[55]

Historically, Switzerland has had the largest number of newspapers published in proportion to its population and size. ^[56] The most influential newspapers are the Tages-Anzeiger , the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (both in German) and Le Temps (in French), but almost every city has its local newspaper. The cultural diversity of the country contributes to the publication of multiple newspapers. ^[56]

In contrast to print media, broadcasters have always been largely under government control. ^[56] The Swiss Radio Broadcasting Company, whose name was recently changed to SRG SSR idée suisse , is responsible for producing and broadcasting several national radio and television programs. The SRG SSR studies are distributed across the different linguistic regions. Radio programs are produced in six central studios and four local studios, while television programs are made in Zurich ( SF ), Geneva ( TSR ), Lugano ( RTSI ) and Chur ( RTR ). A large cable broadcasting company also allows the Swiss population access to programs from neighboring countries. ^[56]

Gastronomy

Switzerland’s gastronomy is multifaceted. While some dishes such as fondue , raclette or rösti are present in all the country’s kitchens, each region developed its own gastronomy, each gastronomic area coinciding with the different linguistic areas. ^[57] Traditional Swiss cuisine uses ingredients similar to those of other European countries, among other dairy products and cheeses such as Gruyere or Emmental , produced in the Gruyère and Emmental valleys , from which they take their names.

Chocolate has been made in Switzerland since the 18th century, but gained its reputation in the late 19th century with the invention of more modern techniques, such as conching and tempering, which helped improve the quality of the products. Furthermore, another of the great Swiss advances in this industry was the invention of milk chocolate in 1875 by Daniel Peter .

The wine , mainly white , is produced mainly in Valais , Vaud , Geneva and Ticino . Vineyards have existed in the area since Roman times, and vestiges were even found that could date back to earlier times. The most produced varieties are Chasselas (called “Fendant” in Valais) and Pinot Noir . Merlot is the main variety produced in Ticino.

Sports

Much of the most popular sports in Switzerland are winter sports . Skiing and mountaineering are widely practiced in the country by both Swiss and foreigners, as its snow-capped peaks attract mountaineers from all over the world. The country has hosted multiple world winter sports championships and tournaments, including two editions of the Winter Olympic Games in 1928 and 1948 , both in St. Moritz . In addition, one of the ski jumping World Cup events is held annually in Engelberg .

Like other Europeans, many Swiss are football fans and the country has its own national team , organized by the Swiss Football Association . Since the 1920s, soccer gained popularity and began a period of boom for this sport in the country, which culminated in 1954, when Switzerland organized the World Soccer Championship . After stagnation in the decades that followed, at the end of the 1990s, the soccer team managed to qualify for the 1994 Soccer World Cup , thus reviving the country’s interest in soccer. ^[58] Until 2009, the national team has competed in 8 World Cups, with the quarterfinals being its best result. In 2008 , Switzerland organized the European Championship with Austria . Switzerland has participated in 3 European Championships , where it has never gone beyond the first phase. The country’s main football competition is the Swiss Super League .

Many Swiss are also fans of ice hockey and support one of the 12 clubs in the A-League . In April 2009, Switzerland hosted the IIHF World Championship , for the tenth time.

Cycling is another sport that also has wide promotion and participation . In Switzerland, a wide variety of cycling events are held such as the Tour of Switzerland and the Tour de Romandie , in addition to the country having hosted international championships such as the World Road Cycling Championships . Notable Swiss cyclists include Fabian Cancellara , Alex Zülle and Tony Rominger .

Other sports that have gained popularity in Switzerland include tennis , with tennis players such as Roger Federer and Martina Hingis ; and figure skating , highlighting the skater Stéphane Lambiel . In both sports, the Swiss have won multiple tournaments and championships. In addition, there are other sports where several Swiss athletes have been successful such as fencing ( Marcel Fischer ), canoeing ( Ronnie Dürrenmatt ), sailing ( Alinghi ), kayaking ( Mathias Röthenmund ), volleyball ( Sascha Heyer , Markus Egger , Paul and Martin Laciga ), among others.

Motor racing , motorcycling and other similar sports were banned in Switzerland after the Le Mans disaster in 1955 with the exception of events such as mountain racing . This ban was lifted in June 2007. During this period, several successful racers such as Clay Regazzoni , Jo Siffert and World Touring Car Championship racer Alain Menu continued to emerge in various regions of the country . Switzerland also won the A1GP Motocross World Cup in the 2007-2008 season, with driver Neel Jani . Swiss motorcyclist Thomas Lüthi won the 2005 MotoGP World Championship , in the 125cc class .

Traditional Swiss sports include wrestling called Schwingen , an ancient tradition of rural cantons in the center of the country. ^[59] Steinstossen is the Swiss variant of shot put , a competition where a heavy stone is thrown as far as possible. Practiced among the Alpine population since prehistoric times , it became popular in Basel around the 13th century. Hornussen is another native sport of Switzerland, which is a mix between baseball and golf and is practiced mainly in the northern part of the country . ^[59]