SETTING LIMITS TO EUROPHOBIA ?

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SETTING LIMITS TO EUROPHOBIA ?

• Recent Developments in Swiss Euroscepticism

Clive H Church BA Ph.D, Emeritus Professor of
European Studies, University of Kent, UK
Euroscepticism and European Integration
Zagreb 12-13 April 2007
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THE IMPORTANCE OF SWISS EUROSCEPTICISM

• A Dual Significance

1. The existence of two forms of opposition to
Europe which are sometimes in conflict, and which
query party competition theories. 2. Strong and
Increasing opposition shown in Growing public
reservations on Europe
Simplified and reinforced architecture Diluted
government policy Widening, deepening and
intensifying debate Eroding support for
integration
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THE ARGUMENT

• How Switzerland has soft and hard Euroscepticism
  and what this signifies

Switzerland deserves more consideration from
students of opposition to Europe not just because
of the strength of feeling there, and its unusual
dynamics and structure, but also because of the
way that mild Euroscepticism is one of the
factors which has inhibited the triumph of
extremely hard Euroscepticism. All this raises
questions about our understanding of
Euroscepticism, both on the ground and as a
theoretical construct.
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AN OUTLINE

• Introduction and Argument

PUBLIC OPINION PARTIES AND MOVEMENTS GOVERNMENT
POLICY DEBATE ON EUROPE SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATION
CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION LIMITATIONS CO
MPARISONS AND PROSPECTS
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PUBLIC OPINION
Declining Support for integration and Entry Doubt
spreads into the Suisse Romande Estimates of
likelihood of membership drop Lack of
consensus Mild scepticism saves Integration ? A
European cleavage ?
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PARTIES AND MOVEMENTS

• A simplication of the architecture

Implosion and reorientation of small anti
European parties Weakening and ambiguity
on the centre right Key role of the Action for
an Independent and Neutral Switzerland
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THE SWISS PEOPLES PARTY
Large electoral gains, at national and cantonal
levels Permanent, and aggressive, campaigning
Tightened structures and discipline Widening
social recruitment Cross party appeal
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GOVERNMENT POLICY

• The Lessons of the Report on gtEurope 2006'

Entry moves from being an aim to an option in the
search for closer relations with the EU The
Reassertion of Swiss interests The Upgrading of
the Bilateral Approach Redressing European
disparities Greater willingness to resist EU
pressures
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ANTI EUROPEAN DEBATE

• An Increasing Focus on European Questions

A virtual absence of left-wing critiques Looking
beyond the entry question Harsh criticism of
bilateral deals Querying of Europeanization ? A
growing demand for popular involvement
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OTHER KEY THEMES

• Switzerland as a gtSonderfall

Sovereignty Direct Democracy The Socio-Economic
Dimension
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SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATION

• Or how Europhiles have helped the opposition to
  the EU

The New Swiss European Movement - a
wounded animal The Problems of Social
Democratic and Green support The declining
enthusiasm of academia,
business and other social forces The restraints
on Governmental and EU action
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THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SWISS EUROSCEPTICISM

• AND HOW IT MIGHT BE CLASSIFIED

SOFT - The difficulties of separating this out
HARD Quintessentially Right Wing
Less rooted in German speaking
areas Essentially domestic in
orientation Dual structure
Mainstream and Oppositional To be regarded as
rejectionist ? More work on typology needed ?
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CONSTRAINTS ON EUROPOHOBIA
POPULAR PRAGMATISM SYSTEMIC STRUCTURAL
LIMITATIONS EUROPEANIZATION
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EUROPEAN COMPARISONS

• More differences than similarities

Consistent stance Right wing leadership of losers
No problems with alliance or government
role Rises through PR electoral system Party
competition less important than ideology Part of
a wider challenge, entrepreneurial and reflecting
European political trends
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PROSPECTS FOR SWISS OPPOSITION TO EUROPE

• Continuing stand offs ?

The importance of the October elections and the
European integration context Tipping over into
Europhobia ? The paradoxical effects of
bilateralism The continuing constraints
of the political system The impact of
attacks on Europeanization