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Neutral, it’s somehow fresh, modern, unprecedented sounds – just new. This is because we pronounce the word “neutral” in German. But in fact, it has nothing to do with the new, because it comes from the Latin “neutralis”, where “ne” is a negation and originally meant “neither of two”, that is, neither feminine nor masculine, but neuter. So Switzerland is what old federal councilor Ueli Maurer (72) didn’t want in state government: It.
Of course, “neutral” has a broader meaning at the state-political level: “Does not participate without supporting either of the two disputing parties.” And our country has a long tradition here: “Switzerland and its neutrality – 400 years of history” – this is the title of the book by the Swiss historian Marco Giorio (71), published in April. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Historical Encyclopedia of Switzerland (HLS) for many years, a member of the CVP, and currently sits on the Green Liberal Worb BE large municipal council.
400 years of neutrality? Many remember their school years, where the Battle of Marignano (I) in 1515 marked the beginning, and do the math. However, in his well-researched and brilliantly written work, Jorio proves that Switzerland was not neutral until the 17th century. Historians have seen it the same way for centuries. Only in 1915, on the anniversary of the Battle of Marignano, did this opinion change and subsequently become generally accepted.
“Only a few authors date the beginning of neutrality to the time of the Thirty Years’ War,” writes Jorio, who considers himself one of these historians. Between 1618 and 1648, there was a religious war between Catholics and Protestants in Europe that was less about God and more about power. Even before the war, the Evangelical Union tried unsuccessfully to win over the reformed Swiss cities of Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich. The reason was the fear of a federal civil war.
The cities held back because “it would give our other allies an excuse to sit back and remain neutral.” If the Reformed cities do not take up arms, the Catholic cities of Lucerne and Freiburg will not rush into battle. Jorio: “Except for some ‘collateral damage’, the Confederacy made it through the turbulent period of the Thirty Years’ War unscathed.”
Confessional conflicts, warring neighboring countries: “For Switzerland (…) the conditions that have formed the basis of neutrality since the 17th century have disappeared,” says Yorio. At the same time, it is still deeply rooted in the mentality and hearts of the Swiss. Therefore, we are not talking about the abolition of this status, but about reorientation. Horio writes: “As soon as it becomes clear whether the state is the aggressor or the victim, then neutral Switzerland must also help the victim (…)”.
Source: Blick
I am David Miller, a highly experienced news reporter and author for 24 Instant News. I specialize in opinion pieces and have written extensively on current events, politics, social issues, and more. My writing has been featured in major publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC News. I strive to be fair-minded while also producing thought-provoking content that encourages readers to engage with the topics I discuss.
