Introduction

Trade with the Soviet Union during the Cold War was of no major importance for the Swiss economy as a whole, although it was considered vital for some export-oriented firms, especially of the machine industry. Between 1945 and 1970 it remained less than one per cent of the total volume of foreign trade. For the Swiss authorities economic relations with the Soviet Union were primarily a means of demonstrating the time-honoured principle of neutrality.

Swiss neutrality looks back on an extremely long tradition. After the defeat at Marignano (1515) the Confederacy had definitively withdrawn from European wars and politics, in which until then it had played a not unimportant role. The new strategy of ‘stille sitzen’ (keeping quiet) was not yet a policy of active neutrality. Nevertheless it proved extremely successful: Switzerland managed to keep out of the innumerable European wars and was not invaded by foreign armies until 1798, when revolutionary France conquered the country. After the Napoleonic wars Swiss neutrality was re-established and recognized by international law at the Congress of Vienna (1814/15). Thus, a strategy that had originally been a simple guideline for foreign policy resulted in an important part of Swiss national identity.

Strictly speaking and from the point of view of international law, the principle of neutrality applies only in times of war, and means that neutrals must not take part in military actions on either side. They are, however, free in their trade relations with the belligerents.