Geography and Switzerland’s National Stability
Geography and Switzerland’s National Stability
A landlocked, mountainous country, Switzerland 's geographical position in central Europe and strong neutral stance has given it the access and political stability to become one of the world 's wealthiest countries, largely through its banking industry. Over the last 200 years Switzerland has become a symbol of neutrality and impartiality. It has been formally neutral since just after the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century and before that informally for about 300 years, Switzerland only joined the United Nations in September of 2002. Surrounded by the European Union, it is gradually engaging more closely with its powerful neighbor and other international organizations. It has served as headquarters for many international peace keeping and neutral organizations such as the Red Cross and the World Trade Organization, and has not been invaded or nationally taken part in a military conflict since the early 1800’s. This paper will discuss how Switzerland’s geography has influenced its current status as a nation today both as symbol of stability and progress among nations today despite being a landlocked nation surrounded by a modern day political superpower and a historically warring region as well as some of the negative effects of its geography. Switzerland has long been the crossroads for Europe’s wars, nations, trade, and cultures which can be shown by the four official national languages spoken in Switzerland which are German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch. Many would question how a country so central and so geographically small could maintain such a long existence, since 1291, making Switzerland one of the world’s oldest democracies not including the period of Napoleonic occupation. Other nations in Europe that have found themselves surrounded by warring powers have historically found themselves subject to constant invasion and occupation or their territory has turned into nothing but a battle ground
A landlocked, mountainous country, Switzerland 's geographical position in central Europe and strong neutral stance has given it the access and political stability to become one of the world 's wealthiest countries, largely through its banking industry. Over the last 200 years Switzerland has become a symbol of neutrality and impartiality. It has been formally neutral since just after the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century and before that informally for about 300 years, Switzerland only joined the United Nations in September of 2002. Surrounded by the European Union, it is gradually engaging more closely with its powerful neighbor and other international organizations. It has served as headquarters for many international peace keeping and neutral organizations such as the Red Cross and the World Trade Organization, and has not been invaded or nationally taken part in a military conflict since the early 1800’s. This paper will discuss how Switzerland’s geography has influenced its current status as a nation today both as symbol of stability and progress among nations today despite being a landlocked nation surrounded by a modern day political superpower and a historically warring region as well as some of the negative effects of its geography. Switzerland has long been the crossroads for Europe’s wars, nations, trade, and cultures which can be shown by the four official national languages spoken in Switzerland which are German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch. Many would question how a country so central and so geographically small could maintain such a long existence, since 1291, making Switzerland one of the world’s oldest democracies not including the period of Napoleonic occupation. Other nations in Europe that have found themselves surrounded by warring powers have historically found themselves subject to constant invasion and occupation or their territory has turned into nothing but a battle ground
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