Swiss Foreign Policy

For decades, Switzerland has been synonymous with neutrality. At the same time, however, the Swiss have fiercely protected their independence and have also been visible players on the international stage. Drawing on years of high-level study, the authors trace the key factors that have shaped Swiss foreign policy after World War II: neutrality, anti-communism and economic integration. They also discuss the impact international security concerns, the European Union and globalization on Switzerland. Unique among Western European countries, Switzerland has pursued economic integration without entering into a wider political union, performing a difficult balancing act between engagement and self-determination. Of interest to students of European and comparative politics, this is the first comprehensive look at Switzerland's post-war foreign policy.

Daniel Schwarz has served as a research assistant at the Swiss Peace Foundation.