1 Introduction to Switzerland Andreas Grilnig Switzerland - like every state - is built on specific geographical, natural, historical, cultural and economic features. Situated in the heart of Europe, Switzerland displays a fascinating array of scenic grandeur. It is the source of four rivers, Rhine, Rhone, Ticino, and Inn; each has its people, and these four people form a nation. If one were to try to capture the essence of Switzerland in a single word, that word would surely be 'diversity'. More essentially, one could say that overall it is this diversity which gives Switzerland its spiritual value and very identity. It is rare to find so small a country encompassing such scope, variety and individuality in its national life and above all in its natural features. Situated in southern central Europe, Switzerland is, first and foremost, a land of hills and mountains. This is emphasized by the fact that half of the country's surface metres (a.s.l.) Surface % 4634 m Population % 4000 - 4199 3800 - 3999 3600 - 3799 3400 - 3599 3200 - 3399 3000 - 3199 2800 - 2999 2600 - 2799 2400 - 2599 2200 - 2399 2000 - 2199 1800 -1999 1600 -1799 1400 -1599 1200 -1399 1000 - 1199 800 - 999 600 - 799 400 - 599 Fig. 1.1. Distribution of land surface area in 193 - 399 Switzerland and population as a function of elevation. % 60 50 40 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 % 25 Mires « 1%) Farmland (28% ) Glaciers (3%) High mountains (12%) Mire landscapes (2.2%) Lakes, rivers (4% ) Settlements (4%) Mountain pastures (19%) Fig. 1.2. Land use in Switzerland. exceeds the 1,000 m contour line with an average elevation of about 1,350 m above sea level (a.s.l.; cf. Fig. 1.1). Approximately one-quarter of the country is uncultivated or developed land, one-quarter mountain pastures, one-quarter forest and one-quarter farmland (Fig. 1.2). The total land surface area is 2 41,293 km • Throughout history and due to its central position, the country has been an important link in communications and transport between northern and south­ ern Europe. 1.1 Geographical setting Roughly a fifth of the total range of the Alps, specifically the central part, can be found in Switzerland. This includes the four main passes of Grimsel, Furka, St. Gotthard and Oberalp. Switzerland represents the rooftop of Europe. From Germany I 47°48'35" N I T- -------r I I I ft- I France t J )1 I -/ I I I I I I I I I SI I ....... ____ -I- , I ..........., Italy I Fig. 1.1.1. The three main geographical re­ The Jura Mountains (10%) The Alps, including the Prealps (60%) gions of Switzerland (modified from BAR D 1979). D The Central Plateau (30%) L Principality of Lichtenstein 26 here spring the sources of the Rh6ne and the Rhine, and also the rivers Ticino and Inn, which feed the Po and the Danube respectively, giving rise to the country's popular alternative description as the 'Fountain of Europe' (see Fig. 1.3.5 and Fig. 1.4.3). The country is situated between 45° and 48° N latitude and 5° and 11° E longitude. Switzerland's maximum distance from north to south is 220 km, and from west to east 350 km (cf. Fig. 1.1.1). It has an area of approximately 41,000 km2; half that of its eastern neighbour Austria or of the entire island of Ireland. As a small landlocked state, it has no direct access to the sea. In the north the Lake of Constance and the Rhine form the greater part of the natural border with Germany (346 km). The gently rolling Jura Mountains, which cover much ofthe north-western area, and the Lake of Geneva mark the border with France (572 km). The southern border with Italy is 734 km. Here, we find the topo­ graphical backbone of Switzerland - the southern mountain chain of the Alps with some of the highest mountain peaks of the Alpine arc: The famous Matterhorn, the impressive Piz Bernina and in the Monte Rosa massif, the Dufour peak at 4,634 metres (the highest mountain in the country). In the low­ lying area of the canton Ticino, there is sub-Mediterranean climate and flora of the northern Italian lakes region (Lombardy plain; cf. Fig. 1.3.5). From here the frontier travels eastward, one moment following the southern ridge of the Alps, the next cutting across the high valleys and mountain ridges toward Austria. Austria's western end is marked by the ridge ofthe eastern Alps (cf. Austroalpine nappes in Fig. 1.3.1). Eventually, it is again the Rhine River which marks the borders with both the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein (41 km) and Austria (165 km in all). Although the country's boundaries stretch as far as the upper Lombardy plain in the south and to the Black Forest beyond the Rhine in the north, the three major regions of Switzerland, geographically speaking, are the Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura Mountains. The Alps, including the ranges of the pre-Alps, occupy 60% of the land surface; the relatively low-lying Central Plateau which, in geological terms, is known as the Molasse Basin or 'Mittelland' in German and 'le plateau suisse' in French, occupies 30%; this is bound to the north-west by the third region, the Jura Mountains, occupying 10%. 1.2 The roots of Swiss federalism (development, demography, diversity, (semi-)direct democracy) (The following description is partly adapted from VON FABER-CAsTELL (1984) and Expofederal (1991).) Little more than a quarter of the total surface area of Switzerland lies in the Central Plateau, yet this plateau presently contains more than two-thirds of the population. It is highly industrialized and intensively farmed. As early as prehistoric times this area appears to have functioned as a melting pot of imported cultures. Therefore, in spite of the country's small size and depend­ ence on others, the Swiss are surprisingly diverse as a people (probably also due to Switzerland's great variety of natural factors, its mountains as obstacles to traffic and its over 700 year old history). However, like most other countries, Switzerland has ideas about what makes it special and different. These ideas are derived from historical tradition, partially self-created and partially assumed, forming (for the present) a sort of national identity even though the state is strongly compartmentalized and federalist. Fig. 1.2.1. Unknown to most historians, William Tell had an older and less fortunate son named Warrren (by Larsen, The Far Side copyright 1986 Farworks, Inc.! Dist. by Uni­ versal Press Syndicate. Reprinted with per­ mission. All rights reserved). 27 1.2.1 Historical development of Switzerland Roman age For the Romans Switzerland played an important role as a fortified frontier province acting as a buffer against the German tribes to the north as well as a transit post for their flourishing commercial trade. North-south arteries oftrade like the Julier pass, marked by two Roman columns at its summit, or the Great St. Bernhard pass are a throwback to those days. 5th century After the last of the Roman Legions left at the beginning of the fifth century, Switzerland was infiltrated successively by tribes of Alemanni, Burgundians, Franks and Goths, with the Rhaetians holding out in the eastern Alps. The historical language divisions had already become established: In the Suisse Romande French is spoken, in the Ticino and in the more southerly valleys of the Grisons Italian. In the German-speaking north and north-east, various alemannic dialects prevail (cf. Chapter 1.2.3). Middle Ages Switzerland was not created in one day. Following Christianization and the inclusio!} of the entire territory into the Holy Roman Empire under Charle­ magne, it was perhaps the key geopolitical role of the Gotthard pass, even now an important strategic link on the north-south trade routes, which indirectly led to the founding of the Swiss Confederation. However, there is a well-known story relating to its historic foundation: In the year 1291 the people of the three territories, Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, concluded the "Treaty of Everlasting Alliance" for their common defence against the royal house ofHabsburg. There was a subsequent storming of the fortresses, resulting in the defeat of the Habsburg tyranny in the founding cantons. The bailiffs were driven out and their citadels destroyed (Remember the legend ofWilliam Tell!; cf. Fig. 1.2.1). However, these tales of the founding of the country are products of later eras. The idea that the Confederation grew out of a resistance movement against the Habsburgs is an ideological invention of the 15th century. It has only been in the past 100 years that 1291 has been named as the founding year of Confederation. 13th century From recent historical research (BLICKLE et al. 1990), there is evidence that in the period around 1300, the Central Swiss region ofUri, Schwyzand Unterwalden was economically and culturally underdeveloped, geographically insignificant, and totally devoid of interest to a rising territorial power like the Habsburg dynasty. Although Habsburg-Austria possessed property in the three lands, it made no noteworthy investments there such as founding cities or establishing fortresses. The treaty of 1291 was undertaken by the local ruling families, who were above all eager to consolidate their own power; thus the pact was not primarily directed against the Habsburgs. The Confederation was founded in response to the peripheral na ture of its political and economic position. This left self-help measures as the only alternative. 14th and 15th century In the course of little more than a century, various cities and valley communities became affiliated with the perpetual alliance in the form of cantons (cf.