At the beginning of the 20th century the genesis of national states was defined as a political expression of the social development of the late medieval and modern times and therefore as the unalterable course of history. The concept of a transhistorical reality of national communities shaped historical and sociological theory of the so called national historiography, which considered the nation the subject of identification in history.
After the second world war this definition changed radically. National state now did no longer define the political union or alliance of a naturally formed prehistoric group with a common identity, but was depicted as the result of a loss of identity in modernity, resulting form political seduction, social crisis, historical change, secularization and social constructions. The national state concept was questioned.
"There are three threats to the modern national state: first the consequently applied individualism of modern society, second an overload through attributed tasks and third the increasing internationalisation." (BaZ 1.10.2000)
Even though nationality is now commonly accepted to be a quality that can be acquired by living in a country long enough, there still seems to be a pool of characteristics typical of a nation. The items are rather resistant to time and change and are handed down from one generation to the next.
The following essays, opinions and fact sheets provide a thorough and varied picture of Switzerland and what is typical of its people. We have included political and institutional facts but also personal experiences and opinions.
Have fun reading!
