Making of Modern Switzerland, 1848-1998

In The Making of Modern Switzerland, 1848-1998 leading British and Swiss scholars explore the phenomenon of modern Switzerland that has evolved out of the successful liberal revolution of 1848. The first part of the book covers the cultural, historical and literary aspects of this unique country. The conflicts of 1848 are explored both through their impact on Swiss historiography and through the reactions they provoked from writers and intellectuals at the time. The processes of creating a national myth are examined in the contemporary literature of Switzerland. The second half of the book looks at constitutional, political and economic problems confronting Switzerland today. The task of reforming the nineteenth-century Swiss Federal Constitution is outlined and the state of contemporary Swiss politics analysed. The final three chapters deal with Switzerland's international role in conflict resolution and the economic issues facing the country within the context of a rapidly evolving European Union. The problem of sustaining a coherent Swiss identity and maintaining the Swiss tradition of neutrality and multiculturalism is analysed in the context not only of Europe but also of the challenges posed by globalization.