Frank A. Meyer – Pillar: Tiny World Power

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The Neue Zürcher Zeitung is an excellent medical guide to all sorts of Swiss ailments. This week, NZZ journalist Gerald Hosp took on a foreign policy migraine that tends to affect Switzerland’s well-being at shorter and shorter intervals.

The source of the cursed suffering is Switzerland’s role as “the world power in the trade of oil, aluminium, wheat or coffee”, as an expert diagnosed, and immediately recommended to Berne “to arm against audacious demands from abroad”, while he advised all who share his medical wisdom to take preventive measures: the country must be able to “reliably” ensure that “the risks in the industry are under control”.

“World Power” – The very choice of this term makes a highly diplomatic one-sided/other side recommended.

This very big world power creates difficulties for the tiny world power of Switzerland: for example, the “Helsinki Commission” of the US Congress or representatives of the Washington Treasury Department or other US authorities who look after the global trading giants based in Switzerland and the Russian oligarchic funds under Swiss patronage. The tone of US corporations, which is sometimes reflected in angry letters, is critical or very critical.

Switzerland in the global dock is the result of a Swiss headache.

First of all, a country of a democratic model must answer one question: who is responsible for the foreign policy of Switzerland – the economically strong one? Or politically powerful?

From outside and afar, it seems that Switzerland’s reputation is being damaged by powerful trading powers, from Glencore to Mercuria and Gunvor. But that would mean: managers determine the international image of Switzerland.

Foreign policy is made by those who are not called to politics!

What is the point in the world of a republican modest appearance of the Federation Council? Does that mean he’s lost? And is there, as in other democratic countries, the economy does not compete with politics? Economy as one force, politics as another force.

Two equal forces.

It’s not – it shouldn’t be! Because in a democracy, politics is the whole, a force that transcends all social forces, that is, it is also the decisive shaping force for the economy. The people must restrain the development of the economy and excesses through elections and voting – to shape the economy for the benefit of the whole society.

It’s true, global energy companies can move from Zug to Dubai if they don’t like the democratic uprising. On the other hand, it is Switzerland that offers something that is not in the assortment of authoritarian locales, no matter how ultra-modern they may be: a quality of life in the form of freedom, security and love of life – a democratic culture that managers and employees of globally operating companies cannot wish for.

Democrats trust democracy. Capitalism is part of it – part of the whole.

Source: Blick