• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2020 Sweden – Switzerland: the entangled history of two like-minded countries Tanner, Jakob Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-194558 Book Section Published Version Originally published at: Tanner, Jakob (2020). Sweden – Switzerland: the entangled history of two like-minded countries. In: Schoenenberger, Christian. Sweden and Switzerland: past, present and future. Stockholm: Embassy of Switzerland in Sweden, 4-43. Sweden and Switzer land: past, present and future Sweden and Switzer land: past, present and future 100 Years of Like-mindedness In 2020 and 2021, we celebrate 100 years of Swiss official headquarters, a harbinger of future Swedish­Swiss military presence in Sweden. There are both historic and pandemic co­operation. reasons for extending the anniversary celebrations over two years. Switzerland took a little longer to establish its diplomatic pre­ sence, as happens from time to time. Our country initially Many historical events have precise dates. This holds true for conducted its diplomatic relations with Sweden through its royal weddings, moon landings and battles. Historical develop­ representation in Berlin. In 1920, the Swiss govern ment pro­ ments, on the other hand, often take years or even decades to posed to Parliament the opening of a diplomatic mission in unfold. As historian Jakob Tanner notes in these pages, both Stockholm. Parliament swiftly approved the proposal, and the Sweden’s and Switzer land’s democracy and social security first Swiss envoy arrived in Stockholm at the beginning of 1921. systems were many years in the making. The establishment of a There is thus sound historic justification for commemorating Swiss diplomatic presence in Sweden may appear less complex the 100th anniversary of Switzer land’s diplomatic presence than these processes. It still took some years. both in 2020 and 2021. Creative historians could find reasons to extend the celebrations even further. Already during the First World War, in 1915, Sweden and Switzer land established diplomatic relations. That year, Sweden The coronavirus is the other reason for extending the anni­ opened a diplomatic mission in Switzerland. It chose the Bel­ versary. The Swiss embassy had made preparations for about levue Grand Hotel in Bern as its first seat, an early sign of good 20 centenary events, most of which were planned for 2020. taste and pragmatism among the Swedish envoys. The hotel was But then came the pandemic. Countless events were cancelled (and still is) located in the immediate neighbourhood of the around the world. The embassy decided to postpone and adapt Swiss government, and offered (as it still does) excellent meet­ events in order to avoid cancellations. It worked. In a sense, ing facilities, food and wines. It also housed the Swiss Army’s the embassy emulated Swedish State Epidemiologist Anders 1 Sweden – Switzerland: past, present and future Tegnell’s strategy of flattening the (infection) curve, applying « When it comes to it to the centenary. Much like the infection curve, the event democracy, it would be good curve has been flattened – and stretched out over time. Like the corona virus, the centennial will thus still be with us in 2021. if we in both Sweden and Switzerland would be more Sweden chose a less restrictive strategy than most other coun­ curious about what others tries to address the COVID­19 pandemic. In its Government Response Stringency Index, Oxford University concludes that do. We are so used Sweden’s policy response to the pandemic corresponded to to living in a around 40% of a full lockdown, compared with around 80% for democracy and Switzerland’s response. The Swedish ‘Sonderweg’ (special path) to address the crisis drew considerable attention in Switzer­ believe that land and worldwide. Sweden offered an alternative response to ours is the best, the pandemic, which seemed worth understanding. There were but there are weak contacts between Sweden and Switzer land at both top political and expert levels. Switzer land had so far considered itself the points in both countries. In champion of the ‘Sonderweg’, a position it now shared with Switzerland, for example, Sweden. many do not have the right A shared preference for political exceptionalism thus emerges to vote because they do not as a new commonality between Sweden and Switzer land. Even hold a Swiss passport; in before, the two countries displayed many similarities and were Sweden we almost never frequently mistaken one for the other. The confusion is no coincidence – and no problem, either. It is never a problem get the chance to vote. The to be mistaken for a friend. working of democracy can be improved, and both countries In his analysis, Jakob Tanner explains the special relationship between Sweden and Switzer land as a mix of mental affinities can learn from each other and and structural factors. We share the same values. We cherish from others.» our freedoms. We tend to be individualistic and pragmatic. Bruno Kaufmann, We believe in equality and the rule of law. We do not accept Journalist, Political Scientist privileges for the few. We expect our governments to deliver good services for all. We believe in dialogue and have shaped our political systems into mature democracies. We want policy issues to be broadly discussed and coordinated, and accept that 2 this may slow down decision­making. We highly value educa­ power is on the rise; the times of soft power seem gone. Interna­ tion and science and expect our governments to pursue fact­ tional institutions such as the UN Security Council, the World based policies. Trade Organization or the World Health Organization have seen their decision­making blocked and funds withheld. Inter­ Where do such similarities come from? In a long­term relation­ national treaties have been violated or abandoned. ship, two persons eventually come to share similar views. Con­ verging views may also stem from a similar family background. This is a dangerous development. Powerful countries may be In the case of Sweden and Switzer land, similar mechanisms able to impose their will on others, for some time. But it would seem to be at work. We have known each other, diplomati­ be an illusion to believe that they will solve problems that way. cally speaking, for 100 years now. We have worked together Conflicts cannot be solved by force. They will re­emerge once both bilaterally and in international forums. But there are also the pressure is released. There are no simple solutions to com­ similarities in our upbringing. Both Sweden’s and Switzer land’s plex problems. history experienced a period of military overstretch, for which both countries paid a heavy price. The lesson both countries The pressure on the rules­based international order is especially drew from this was to adopt neutral or non­aligned positions. detrimental for countries such as Sweden and Switzer land. Both countries also experienced major labour conflicts, and Ours are innovative nations with successful economies but very both learned to overcome them through effective social part­ limited hard power. We need a functioning world order for our nership. And both countries over­exploited natural resources security and success. and learned the hard lesson that there was no alternative to protecting the environment. It is no easy task to defend the international order against the short­sighted moves of big players. But inaction is not an Today, Sweden and Switzer land pursue converging policies in option. Closer cooperation between like­minded countries a very broad range of areas, from climate and the environment is one way forward. Countries with good credentials such as to research and innovation, economy and trade, migration, de­ Sweden and Switzer land can lead the way. Together with other velopment cooperation and disarmament. Our countries have like­minded countries, we can promote the cause of a just become similar in many respects. We are like­minded – indeed, international order. We feel tempted to exclaim: highly like­minded. ‘Well­intended countries of this world, unite!’ What does the future hold for Sweden and Switzerland? The Christian Schoenenberger international climate has become rougher. The rules­based Ambassador of Switzer land to Sweden international order cannot be taken for granted any longer. Major powers have evidently concluded that they can assert Stockholm, October 2020 their interests more effectively outside international organisa­ tions and multilateral treaties. They try to impose their views unilaterally or bilaterally, pressuring weaker partners. Hard 3 Sweden – Switzer land: the entangled history of two like-minded countries Jakob Tanner, Historian, Prof. em., University of Zurich 4 1/ Oh, you’re from Sweden! It is one of the Swiss “urban legends” to under score differentiation.2 Paradox­ « It is enriching that in the USA, after you have intro- ically, these misunderstandings fit the to work with duced yourself from Zurich, Bern or self images of the two countries. Both Geneva, you are greeted with «Oh, are pleased when they are presented as Switzerland, you’re from Sweden!» Such mistakes confusingly similar as they tend to see as our can also be found in politics, for themselves as “like­minded” with con­ countries are example in hearings of the American vergent positions with regard to central Senate, which took place in the late aspects of society and politics. Not only similar and we 1990s concerning dormant assets in do both countries have comparable sizes can learn from each Swiss banks.1 of population (10.3 and 8.6 million in­ other. For example, we habitants respectively), but life expec­ The phenomenon appears on a global tancy and living standards are equally have comparable decision- scale.

Load more

  49

Copy Link