An «ideal national defense» to strengthen cohesion 

National cohesion, political divisions, external threats: Switzerland needs a new «spiritual national defense», argues historian and centrist member of the Fribourg Grand Council Bernhard Altermatt.

Recently, SVP members of parliament, true to their anti-European line, have threatened to secede with the minority cantons if the third package of bilateral agreements between Berne and Brussels is accepted by the people. Unrealistic as they may be, such statements show a lack of political civic-mindedness. Their main aim is to cultivate resentment, even if it means deepening divisions. From a centrist perspective, it's hardly surprising that similar secessionist bravado has also been uttered by pro-European activists in the past.

D’ailleurs, il y a quelques semaines, la gauche urbaine zurichoise a appelé à la séparation du canton en deux à la suite d’un vote limitant la compétence des grandes villes de généraliser le 30 km/h sur leur territoire. Il serait trop simple d’écarter ce genre d’âneries en les attribuant à la seule catégorie du caquetage capricieux – après tout, ce sont des personnalités appartenant aux deux plus grands partis du pays qui les expriment. En admettant ces discours, le camp rouge-vert et le parti agrarien remettent en question des décisions souveraines du peuple, alors que, d’ordinaire, ils ont l’habitude de se dire particulièrement bons démocrates.

The importance of national cohesion

Rhetoric that plays on ideas of secession calls into question the will to preserve national cohesion. Doubting membership of a common entity on the basis of political disagreements demonstrates a blatant lack of civic immaturity and patriotism. Marked by diversity and federalism, our country has an existential interest in safeguarding a sense of community, and hence in proscribing splittist fads. The public expects politicians to continually seek a balance between regions, bridge social divides and promote the common good.

Beyond the absence of a realistic alternative, the main motivation is to maintain peace and stability, both internally and externally. It's obvious that cities and countryside have no choice but to coexist within our country. The same applies to French and German speakers, Italian and Romansh speakers, older and younger generations, social partners, religious communities and so on.

Promoting cohesion is all the more important in a society where both diversity and individualism are on the increase. What's more, the external threats facing Europe and Switzerland have increased considerably in recent years. The population, for its part, does not yet seem to have assimilated either the new geopolitical situation or the dangers of an erosion of social bonds in this increasingly hostile context.

A new «spiritual national defense»

With this in mind, Federal Councillor Martin Pfister recently called for a renewed effort to strengthen national cohesion. A historian by training, the head of the Department of Defense referred in particular to the «national spiritual defense» (Geistige Landesverteidigung), without embracing the thinking and action of the first half of the 20^th century.

On December 14, 1914, future Nobel literature laureate Carl Spitteler gave his famous «Our Swiss Point of View» speech in Zurich to the newly-founded New Helvetic Society. He called on Swiss people of different origins, cultures and opinions to strengthen the bonds that unite them. His vibrant appeal was addressed to the population as a whole, as well as to its elected representatives. The speech was a response to social tensions in domestic politics, and above all to the deep divisions separating the country's linguistic communities in relation to the international situation following the outbreak of war.

La défense nationale spirituelle – dans toute sa complexité et son ambivalence – doit être placée en filiation directe avec les mises en garde du temps de la Première Guerre mondiale. A partir de l’entre-deux-guerres, ce mouvement prônait le renforcement conséquent de la cohésion interne comme de la position internationale de la Suisse. La visée de ce programme politique et culturel peut être mise en perspective avec le présent: la sécurité en Europe n’a jamais été autant menacée en 80 ans que depuis l’occupation de la Crimée en 2014 et l’attaque de l’Ukraine par la Russie néo-impérialiste et révisionniste de Poutine en 2022.

Unity and diversity, sovereignty and cooperation

Quand Francis Fukuyama annonçait une proche «fin de l’histoire» après l’effondrement du bloc communiste en 1989/91, il se trompait pareillement que Samuel Huntington qui entrevoyait un «choc des civilisations» généralisé. Malgré la non-réalisation des thèses principales des deux politologues américains influents, l’ère dans laquelle nous vivons requiert un nouvel effort conséquent en matière d’orientation stratégique et d’ancrage idéel. Qu’est-ce que cela veut dire pour notre pays et notre politique?

Firstly, Switzerland must do its utmost to promote and strengthen domestic cohesion – while nurturing good relations with its neighbors and the international community. Secondly, it is imperative that Switzerland massively strengthens its defense capabilities in the face of external threats. Here too, this is an objective that cannot be achieved without a renewal of ideals at home and collaboration with partners with whom we share values and interests.

A new «ideal national defense» requires real Herculean efforts. Switzerland needs intellectual and political forces that know how to seek compromise, that are accustomed to explaining complex links without dangling false, easy solutions, and that cultivate a spirit of cooperation at local, regional, national and international levels.

Bernhard Altermatt is a historian. A centrist member of the Grand Council of Fribourg, he is the editor of several books on Swiss foreign policy.

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