Switzerland—From EU-phobia to EU-philia?

Abstract

Switzerland is one of the few European countries that was spared from World War II. Had Switzerland shared the same fate as the Benelux countries, whose neutrality was disregarded by Adolf Hitler’s armies, it would most probably have played an active part in European integration. However, since this was not the case, the Swiss stayed out of this seminal development. Switzerland’s attitude towards supranational political integration in Europe was, a defensive one. For all intents and purposes, the country has been in a state of self-chosen spiritual “redoubt”. Historically, National Redoubt (“Réduit Suisse”) was a defensive military strategy whereby the Swiss army would, if an enemy could not be stopped at the border, withdraw to the Alps and defend its mountain stronghold.