Search

During the First World War, warfare became more totalitarian and was backed by an economic conflict waged with increasingly harsh methods. In the combatant nations munitions rapidly became an essential 'raw material', with the increasing demand being met either by the expanding domestic arms industry or by munitions imports from neutral countries. The Swiss watch, metal and engineering industries enjoyed a strong international reputation and had a strong focus on exports: by the end of 1914 they began manufacturing precision detonators for artillery projectiles, and rising quantities of these products were sold to both sides. This paper examines what volume Swiss munitions exports assumed during the First World War, how this was compatible with Swiss neutrality and looks at the arguments used to criticise or justify this trade over the course of the war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "mixed economy of welfare" is one of the most popular concepts in the history of welfare. Even though a growing body of recent work has illustrated the relationship between different providers of welfare, philanthropic organisations have been widely ignored. This paper will shed some light on this blind spot by focussing on the relationship between state and philanthropic action concerning social welfare. Using the example of the Swiss charitable organisation Pro Senectute, I will argue that the emerging welfare state in the first half of the 20th century did not crowd out Pro Senectute. In fact both Pro Senectute and the state were closely intertwined and its charitable work was a key component in the emerging welfare state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the political and social conflicts in 18th century Val de Bagnes. The existence of a large genealogical database of its population provides new insights into the mobilization patterns of an early modern rural area. Our prosopographical approach, which attempts to identify the protagonists of the different conflicts, reveals the existence of well-organized and relatively stable political factions. Rather than simply being shaped by personal solidarities, they had a coherent political program. Comparison with genealogical data reveals the influence of kinship ties within the political factions, which are responsible for continuities within the structure of political conflicts. However, kinship alone does not explain the logic of political mobilization, other social networks like spiritual kinship or village solidarities also need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the late 17th century, European craftsmen were learning the art of calico printing, also known as indienne. This learning process was based, on the one hand, on available knowledge about European methods of printing and colouring. On the other hand, the challenge was to adapt techniques from India, where craftsmen had produced skilfully printed cotton textiles for centuries. Based on the recent debates on the history of cotton and the transformative effect of Asian textiles for European consumer societies, the article takes the Old Swiss Confederacy (one of the most important locations for the production of printed textiles in Europe) as a case to study the circulation of knowledge about new printing and colouring methods, the problem of industrial espionage avant la lettre, and the relationship between imitation and innovation for the indienne industry of the 18th century. The Swiss indienne industry is conceived of as part of a mimetic economy, within which not only Indian textiles were imitated, but also designs and techniques adapted to local circumstances. The drive, however, to reach the quality of Indian textiles was the most important impulse for innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the spring of 1917 the United States entered the First World War. Switzerland and the other neutral European countries came under increasing pressure as the US wanted to embargo their economies. Switzerland had to adapt quickly to the new political order and sent a diplomatic mission to the United States to secure its food and commodity supply. Even though an agreement with the US authorities could be concluded, the policy outcome was strongly influenced by the economic and political agenda of the belligerents. Thus the scope for Swiss foreign policy was limited. The Swiss case shows the increasing influence of the United States and sheds light on the politics of neutrality during the First World War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the history of the extinct western Yiddish language in the Alsace region, southwest Germany, and Switzerland. Information is provided on the interaction between Yiddish and German languages, the existence of High Alemannic structures in Swiss Yiddish and vice versa is described, and analysis of audio recordings of Yiddish is examined. Examples of code switching by speakers of both High Alemannic and western Yiddish are also provided and the role of linguistic minorities in southwest Germany and Switzerland is described.