History of Switzerland since 1914

Map of Switzerland and Swiss cantons.

The history of Switzerland since 1914 encompasses the final phase of the formation of the Confederation of 22 cantons, commencing with the aftermath of World War I and culminating in the establishment of the canton of Jura. This period also marks the subsequent trajectory of the country's history.[1]

During the First World War, German-speaking Switzerland demonstrated a proclivity towards the Central Powers. In contrast, French-speaking Switzerland, exhibiting greater affinity for the Allies, voiced opposition to the appointment of Ulrich Wille as the army's general. The population endured food shortages throughout the conflict. In 1915, the Federal Council enacted a monopoly on grain distribution. After the war, while Vorarlberg voted for annexation to Switzerland but was ultimately assigned to Austria, the country adopted a foreign policy of armed neutrality. Switzerland joined the League of Nations (LN) in 1920, with its headquarters established in Geneva.[2]

The social difficulties caused by the war led to the general strike of 1918, which resulted in the limitation of working hours and the ending of the Radical Party majority in the Federal Assembly, and subsequently in the Federal Council. The internal politics polarised into two opposing fronts that used referendums to block decisions, forcing the government to use urgent federal decrees. Economically, Switzerland suffered from the 1921, 1922, and 1929 crisis crash.[3]

The early 1930s saw the rise of fascist movements and clashes between the far-left and far-right, which reached a shooting on November 9, 1932 in Geneva with the shooting and continued until 1937, when the "labor peace" agreement was signed, effectively ending direct ideological confrontations. The government also prepared the country for another military conflict during this period.[4]

At the onset of World War II in 1939, Switzerland was not unprepared. Before the conflict, the government had secured supplies, mobilized the army under the command of General Henri Guisan, and initiated a rationing program to ensure the population's basic needs were met. However, by May 1940, the country was surrounded by Axis forces, placing the government in a challenging position.[5]

Following the conclusion of the war, Switzerland proceeded with the further development of its welfare state. Domestically, the "magic formula" was introduced in 1959[6] and remained unchanged until 2003. Women's suffrage was accepted at the federal level in 1971. The late 1960s were marked by the Jura Question, which concerned the establishment of the new canton of Jura on January 1, 1979, created by separating part of the canton of Bern.[7]

  1. ^ Oechsli, Wilhelm (2013). History of Switzerland 1499-1914. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ "Switzerland, the League of Nations, and the shadow of revolution". swissinfo.ch. July 8, 2019. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Rosenkranz, Peter; Straumann, Tobias; Woitek, Ulrich (2022). "The limits of internal devaluation: Switzerland during the great depression". Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics Volume. 158 (20). doi:10.1186/s41937-022-00100-9.
  4. ^ "The Peace Agreement". Social Partners of the MEM industries. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Henri Guisan". Dictionnaire Historique de la Suisse (in French). Archived from the original on February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "Formule magique" [Magic formula]. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (in French). Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Mazidi, Simon; Minder, Denise (2019). "The Case of Jura in Switzerland". Fédéralisme Régionalisme. 19. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022.