Switzerland

SWITZERLAND

POLITICAL OVERVIEW

•Democracy with a federal structure•Elections are free and fair•Voters support the government and armed forces•Maintain a strong sense of neutrality in foreign policy•One of the richest countries

GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS

Government building in Winterthur, Switzerland

•President and parliamentary system• Doris Leuthard, President• Moritz Leuenberger, Vice President

•Federal system with political authority shared between the central government•Executive authority vested in federal council•Separate states joined together for security

• Swiss Confederation is comprised of 26 smaller political units known as cantons

HUMAN RIGHTS

Home of the United Nations Office of Human Rights.

•Government respects the civil and human rights of the citizens•When individual abuse is reported the law provide effective means of dealing with the situation•Security forces known to use excessive force against detainees, minorities, and asylum seekers•Ethnically motivated incidences against the African, Muslim, and Jewish population is a growing concern•Lack of anti-discrimination legislation

EQUALITY 1981- Established law of equality

between men and women 1988- Federal Office for Equality of

Women and Men was established 1996- Law banning discrimination in

workplace

CITIZENS•Population of approximately 7.5 million•Life expectancy at Birth is 80 years•Unemployment rate 3.8%•1.5 million foreign residents

• Foreigners mainly Yugoslavia and Italy•Ethnicity

Germans 65%French 18%Italian 10%

•ReligionRoman Catholic 46%Protestant 40%Smaller groups of Christian, Jews, and Muslims also reside

LANGUAGES Languages- Four official Languages

German 74% French 20% Italian 4.5% Romanic .8%

EDUCATION• Above average spending for education.• Pays highest wages to teachers of all

European countries• Above average results in science and

mathematics compared to other European countries

• 70% students receive vocational training

NATURAL RESOURCES• Covered by an Alpine massif extends

from west to east• Jura mountains and Alps

• Rhone and Rhine rivers run through the country but are not used for commercial traffic

• Rhine river has important ports• Many lakes support fishing • Alpine region contributes to hydroelectric

power, accounts for 60% domestically produced electricity

• No minerals or other deposits• High environmental standards

Geneva, Switzerland

Sees Fee, Switzerland

INFRASTRUCTURE• Increase of cost of major infrastructures;

railroads, telephones because of mountainous terrain

• Transport is excellent• Road and motorway is held in great

condition• Railway network is extensive• Safety standards are high

Stadler Train

BUSINESS Punctuality is taken very seriously. Business cards are acceptable in English Give card to each person you meet Plan in advance if you need an interpreter Climate is conservative Meetings are impersonal, orderly, and time

oriented

BREAD

Graubünden

Graubunden Jura Ticino Valais Vaud Zug

CHOCOLATE

DINING AND ETIQUETTE Business entertainment is typically

conducted at a restaurant Typically after the business meeting Not uncommon for spouses to be included Hot proposes the first toast

Do not drink until after the toast is proposed

Keep hands on table at all times, not in your lap

Elbows off table Cut all soft foods with fork (potato, fruit) Use utensils to eat all foods Break bread with hands

Mountain restaurant Nendez, Switzerland

GIFT GIVING Wait until the end of meeting Do not give an obviously expensive gift Book or artifact from your culture is

welcomed

VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION Be punctual Show respect for elderly Don’t litter Do not chew gum Do no put hands in pockets when speaking

SUMMARY• Strong government• Culturally rich and diverse• Education is important• Business is welcomed and thriving• Beautiful Natural resources and

lots of tourism

CEducation. (2008). Country Profile. Switzerland, 13-14. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Government Functions. (2011). Switzerland Country Review, 46-48. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

"Information about Switzerland." Information about Switzerland. 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. <http://www.about.ch/>.

Levy, Patricia, and Richard A. Lord. Switzerland. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2005. Print.

People. (2011). Switzerland Country Review, 122-125. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Weckerle, Christoph, Manfred Gerig, and Michael Sondermann. Creative Industries Switzerland: Facts, Models, Culture. Basel: Birkhauser, 2008. Print.

Country Overview. (2011). Switzerland Country Review, 1. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Bibliography