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Visual History of the World
(CONTENTS)
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The Contemporary World
1945 to the present
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After World War II, a new
world order came into being in which two superpowers, the United
States and the Soviet Union, played the leading roles. Their
ideological differences led to the arms race of the Cold War and
fears of a global nuclear conflict. The rest of the world was also
drawn into the bipolar bloc system, and very few nations were able
to remain truly non-aligned. The East-West conflict came to an end
in 1990 with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the consequent
downfall of the Eastern Bloc. Since that time, the world has been
driven by the globalization of worldwide economic and political
systems. The world has, however, remained divided: The rich nations
of Europe, North America, and East Asia stand in contrast to the
developing nations of the Third World.
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The first moon landing made science-fiction dreams reality in the
year 1969.
Space technology has made considerable progress as the search for
new
possibilities of using space continues.
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see also: United Nations member states -
Switzerland
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The traditionally stable Swiss governmental system rests on consensus,
direct democracy, and federalism. Switzerland is one of the wealthiest
countries in the world as a result of its finance industry. The service
sector has also come to play a significant economic role. Relations with
the European Union are close, but Switzerland continues to reject
membership, as it does not want to compromise its traditional policy of
neutrality.
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Economic Boom and Criticism after World War II
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Switzerland experienced a rapid rise in its economy after World War II.
The conduct of the banks cooperating with the Nazis during the war
became the subject of sharp criticism.
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1 As a neutral state, Switzerland dissolved its extremist left- and
right-wing political parties and was not an active participant in World
War II although it was obliged to have commercial relations
with the Axis Powers. Its production facilities remained to a great
extent undamaged.
This facilitated the country's swift 2,
4 economic
resurgence after the war.
Switzerland has achieved one of the highest
per capita incomes in the world, with low unemployment and a low budget
deficit.
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1
"No" ballot papers from the referendum on EU membership, December 6,
1992
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2 An economically profitable Swiss tradition: chocolate by Lindt and
Sprungli
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4
Handmade Swiss watches have long been
a desired quality item: modern
Swatch watches,
2003
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The service sector has grown to play an increasingly large
role; its main business sectors are banking and insurance as well as
5, 6
tourism.
Switzerland preserved its strict neutrality, remaining outside
the United Nations (until 2002) and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, although it did decide to join the European Organization for Cooperation
and Development.
As a 3 financial center, Switzerland—which owes its leading position to
the combination of strict banking confidentiality, the neutrality of the
country, and the security of its "Swiss numbered accounts"—came under
criticism after the end of the war.
The Nazis had moved a major part of
the valuables they had stolen during their time in power to Switzerland,
and Swiss banks profited greatly from their crimes. In 1946, the
remaining German assets were transferred to the Allies for reparations.
Treaties with Poland and Hungary in 1949 resulted in the return of
assets to the heirs of victims there. In 1962, a law was passed to force
the banks to provide information on and pay out the remaining fortunes
of those persecuted by the Nazi regime. In 1995 Switzerland was once
again accused of having profited from the smuggling of stolen goods. In
response, the Swiss government set up an international commission of
experts to investigate, but foreign pressure increased to the point that
a payment was agreed upon before the investigation was completed.
Despite this process, the conduct of the banks had damaged Switzerland's
reputation to some extent. Switzerland's refugee policies during the war
also came under fire. Around 25,000 Jewish refugees were turned back at
the Swiss border. In 1996, the president of the confederation, Ruth
Dreyfuss, made a formal Swiss apology for this.
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5
The Matterhorn mountain in the Swiss Alps
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6
The Kapet bridge over the Reuss River, Lucerne, 2000
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3
Headquarters of the Swiss
UBS bank in Zurich, 2001
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The Political System and Neutrality
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Switzerland remains a parliamentary federal state with 26 cantons
committed to neutrality. Political decisions are made by consensus.
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The federal constitution Switzerland adopted in 1848 remained in
force through 1999, with only one revision in 1874; a new constitution
came into force in 2000. Since 1959-1960, Switzerland has been a
concordance or "consensus democracy," in which as many parties,
associations, and social groups as possible are included in the
political process and decisions are made by consensus.
This principle is
the basis of the 11 Federal Council.
According to the so-called "magic
formula," it is composed of representatives of four parties, who jointly
seek political solutions. This system of government is very stable due
to the lack of any opposition. The national government, however, only
holds the authority mandated to it by 22 cantons, themselves in turn
dependent on the "grassroots" democracy of the 3000 municipalities, and
decisions on the federal and canton levels can be contradictory.
Women
were granted suffrage on the federal level in 1971, for example, but the
women
in 7 Appenzell have been able to vote in their canton only since 1990.
The Swiss people have a long tradition of sometimes voting directly on
important issues in open-air assemblies, especially in some mountain
cantons where in the spring the citizens vote by a show of hands. This
is particularly true with respect to changes to the constitution.
Consequently, the Swiss decided by referendum against joining the
European currency system in 1992, against
joining the European Union in 2001, and in favor of membership in the
10
United Nations in 2002.
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11
Federal Council meeting room
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7 The electors of the community of Hundswill, Appenzell, return after
meeting to vote on the issue of suffrage for women, 1989
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10
Posters in favor of (right) and against (left)
Swiss membership in the
United Nations, during
the second referendum in Switzerland on the
United Nations membership February 2002
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Although Switzerland was a founding member of
the European Free Trade Association in 1960, which does not
conflict with the political principle of their neutrality, most Swiss
citizens felt that EU membership would mean political
9 integration into
the community of European nations.
Switzerland is already closely linked
economically with the European Union through bilateral contracts, such
as the agreement on 8 Alpine transit for heavy traffic, but the
abandonment of traditional neutrality is rejected by most of the
citizens.
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9
Swiss raw milk cheese does not conform to EU regulations
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8
Bridge of the North-South railway of the Gotthard
Pass that runs through
the Swiss Alps
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