Although Switzerland is actively involved in UN activities and hosts the organization’s European headquarters, the country’s staunch neutrality and independent-mindedness have kept it from becoming a full-fledged member. Only the Vatican has a similar non-political status in the international community.

This could all change on Sunday, March 3, when Swiss citizens go to the polls to decide on the future of their country. The referendum is the second since 1986, when membership was rejected by a vote of three to one.

At stake is not just Switzerland’s foreign policy, but also the Alpine republic’s definition of itself and its place in the world community.

A new Switzerland

A vote in favor of entering the UN as a full member would mean a more active role in the organization and a solid position in the international and European circle of nations. It would signal to the rest of the world that Switzerland is ready to take on more political responsibilities.

Up to now, Switzerland has rigorously guarded its neutrality, turning almost isolationist when it comes to involvement in international conflicts. Part of this standoffishness dates back to the Cold War era, when Switzerland saw its role as that of a neutral negotiator. But the world has changed considerably since the 80’s.

Critics of Switzerland’s independent stance say such opposition to the UN is not in keeping with the new multi-ethnic face of Switzerland, and they call for a more visible role for their country, albeit one true to the nation’s ideals.

A vote against UN membership would almost certainly mean a loss of face for the country as well as a decline in influence in the few humanitarian agencies to which it belongs, and perhaps even the closing of offices at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

In a recent visit to Switzerland, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said that the international community would have a very hard time accepting a ‘no’ vote. "The world would not understand such a vote, neither politically, socially, economically nor morally," he said.

Populist sentiment and tradition

Nonetheless, opponents say joining the UN would undermine Swiss sovereignty and make the small country of 7.3 million a pawn of the world’s powers.

They argue that the General Assembly, to which all member states belong, is not the real decision maker in the UN, but rather the five-member Security Council. These few but powerful countries have the power to influence world politics, not the 185 smaller countries, the opponents say.

Billionaire populist politician Christoph Blocher of the conservative Swiss People’s Party has led the ‘no’ voters by stoking fears that Swiss soldiers could be dragged into combat under a UN flag.

"We would be drawn into international conflicts and become the target for terrorism and other acts of violence," Blocher warned, appealing to the fears of the Swiss after September 11.

Foreign Minister Deiss has criticized the demagoguery of the no-campaigners. Joining the UN does not necessarily mean the country would forfeit its neutrality, he assured the Swiss voters. Since the establishment of the UN, no country has been forced to deploy troops or participate in military campaigns against its will, Deiss argued.

Membership in the UN only requires that the Swiss abide by the guidelines set by the international community and obey rules on sanctions, which Switzerland does now voluntarily.

"Switzerland will remain neutral even as a member of the United Nations," Deiss said. Its role in the world will not change dramatically simply by participating in an international organization.

And for those concerned about the financial commitment, Deiss has said that Switzerland would finally be getting something for its money. As one of the largest contributors to the UN budget, Switzerland has always given generously without having a say in any of the decision making.

Cliffhanger

The general tendency in Switzerland is to vote in favor of the referendum. Only in the remote mountainous regions are voters likely to turn out in large numbers against what they see as a violation of Switzerland’s traditional neutrality.

At the end of February a national opinion survey found that 54 percent of eligible Swiss voters favored joining the UN. A month earlier it was only 50 percent. But the emotionalism of the issue and the complexity of the democratic process in Switzerland mean the outcome is difficult to predict

Under the Swiss system of direct democracy, the referendum requires not only a popular majority of votes cast, but also most of the 23 Swiss cantons (states), a rule which gives a disproportionate weight to the nine small, German-speaking regions.

These remote mountainous cantons – frequently referred to as the "veto belt" - are traditionally conservative and wary of the outside world. In five of these conservative cantons a "no" has already been decided upon.

UN membership will most likely hang on the nine percent of undecided voters and the larger cities like Lucerne, Geneva, Bern and Zürich.