Why Switzerland?

Author: Jonathan Steinberg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521883075
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 405

Book Description
Revised and completely updated edition of Jonathan Steinberg's classic account of Switzerland's unique political and economic system. Why Switzerland? examines the complicated voting system that allows citizens to add, strike out, or vote more than once for candidates, with extremely complicated systems of proportional representation; a collective and consensual executive leadership in both state and church; and the creation of the Swiss idea of citizenship, with tolerance of differences of language and religion, and a perfectionist bureaucracy which regulates the well-ordered society. This third edition tries to test the flexibility of the Swiss way of politics in the globalized world, social media, the huge expansion of money in world circulation and the vast tsunamis of capital which threaten to swamp it. Can the complex machinery that has maintained Swiss institutions for centuries survive globalization, neo-liberalism and mass migration from poor countries to rich ones?

Swiss Made

Author: R. James Breiding
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 1847658091
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 751

Book Description
Why has Switzerland - a tiny, land-locked country with few natural advantages - become so successful for so long at so many things? In banking, pharmaceuticals, machinery, even textiles, Swiss companies rank alongside the biggest and most powerful global competitors. How did they get there? How do they continue to refresh themselves? Does the Swiss 'Sonderfall' (special case) provide lessons others can learn and benefit from? Can the Swiss continue to perform in a hyper-competitive global economy? Swiss Made offers answers to these and many other questions about the country as it describes the origins, structures and characteristics of the most important Swiss companies. The authors suggest success is due to a large degree to sound entrepreneurial thinking and an openness to new ideas. And they venture a surprising forecast on the country's ability to keep pace in an age of globalisation.

A Concise History of Switzerland

Author: Clive H. Church
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107244196
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Book Description
Despite its position at the heart of Europe and its quintessentially European nature, Switzerland's history is often overlooked within the English-speaking world. This comprehensive and engaging history of Switzerland traces the historical and cultural development of this fascinating but neglected European country from the end of the Dark Ages up to the present. The authors focus on the initial Confederacy of the Middle Ages; the religious divisions which threatened it after 1500 and its surprising survival amongst Europe's monarchies; the turmoil following the French Revolution and conquest, which continued until the Federal Constitution of 1848; the testing of the Swiss nation through the late nineteenth century and then two World Wars and the Depression of the 1930s; and the unparalleled economic and social growth and political success of the post-war era. The book concludes with a discussion of the contemporary challenges, often shared with neighbours, that shape the country today.

Between the Alps and a Hard Place

Author: Angelo M. Codevilla
Publisher: Regnery Publishing
ISBN: 089526238X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 266

Book Description
Switzerland's "neutrality" is fully examined and challenged in this groundbreaking study of the economics underpinning the political in that country's successful non-alignment policies.

Why Switzerland?

Author: Jonathan Steinberg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521484534
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Book Description
Index - p. 288-300

Festivals & Traditions in Switzerland

Author: Barbara Piatti
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
ISBN: 073584416X
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 96

Book Description
Fire and fur, bells and masks! This book takes you on a very special journey through Switzerland to experience the traditional festivals and customs celebrated in all the seasons. Some are happy and colorful, others are wild and scary. You’ll hear the thunderous noise made by bell-ringers and brass bands at Carnival. You’ll see Hom Strom and his pillar of fire burning in the night sky. You’ll meet a real Pschuurirolli—half human, half wild beast—and the dreadful Tschäggäta with their terrifying masks. On the journey, you’ll also encounter shepherds, rifle queens, and men dressed as trees. At the bull market in Zug, you’ll place a bet on the fastest pig; and in the Jura region, you’ll admire the horse riders as they race bareback over the track. You’ll even find out why the Griffin goes as far as baring his behind in Basel. You’ll be surprised. And you’ll laugh. And you just might be a little frightened, too. Are you ready? This unique collection is a fascinating treat for the whole family.

Slow Train to Switzerland

Author: Diccon Bewes
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 1857889762
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 243

Book Description
A travel diary from 1863 inspires author Diccon Bewes to retrace Thomas Cook's historic train trip that revolutionized tourism forever.

Target Switzerland

Author: Stephen P. Halbrook
Publisher: Da Capo Press
ISBN: 0786751185
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 366

Book Description
Countless books have been written on the military history of World War II, however astonishingly little information has appeared about the one country that stared the Nazis down and refused to become an accomplice to the horrors of the Third Reich. This book provides an objective, year-by-year account of Switzerland's military role in World War II, including her defensive strategies, details of Nazi invasion plans, and Switzerland's moral, material and humanitarian links to the Allies. Swiss neutrality in World War II has been criticized in recent years, but the country was entirely surrounded by Axis powers and managed, as revealed here, to render considerable assistance to the Allies.

National Geographic Traveler: Switzerland

Author: Teresa Fisher
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 142620860X
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Book Description
From bustling Zurich to the Swiss capital of Bern, from the Matterhorn in Zermatt to the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in the south, National Geographic Traveler: Switzerland guides you to the better- and lesser-known sights of this pristine European country. In between, you'll discover the cultural and natural treasures--including hundreds of museums, architectural masterpieces, parks, and lakes--Switzerland has to offer. Among the special features of National Geographic Traveler: Switzerland are sidebars detailing experiences throughout the country, to make sure that you get to know the culture, and the people, inside and out. You can learn about Swiss watchmaking in Biel, for example, make your own Swiss chocolate at a culinary workshop, and find the best local designers' clothing in Zurich. Insider tips, in addition, provided by an array of National Geographic experts--photographers, writers, and grantees who have spent significant time in Switzerland--direct you to favorite restaurants, festivals, and other information that only locals know. Guided walks and drives are always a popular feature in our guides, and in National Geographic Traveler: Switzerland, these include a drive across the famous Great St. Bernard Pass, a hike through Appenzellerland and the Lake Constance region, and a walk from Sugiez to M tier through the countryside during grape harvest. To top it off, an extensive Travelwise section at the back of the guide provides hand-picked hotels and restaurants, tour recommendations, and a glossary that covers must-know words.

Swiss Public Administration

Author: Andreas Ladner
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319923811
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 397

Book Description
Swiss citizens approve of their government and the way democracy is practiced; they trust the authorities and are satisfied with the range of services Swiss governments provide. This is quite unusual when compared to other countries. This open access book provides insight into the organization and the functioning of the Swiss state. It claims that, beyond politics, institutions and public administration, there are other factors which make a country successful. The authors argue that Switzerland is an interesting case, from a theoretical, scientific and a more practice-oriented perspective. While confronted with the same challenges as other countries, Switzerland offers different solutions, some of which work astonishingly well.