Switzerland
Switzerland is best described by conveying an understanding of its geography, political, economic, cultural and social environments. The geography of the country has had a significant impact on its way of life. Switzerland is bordered by Germany in the north, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west. This represents many significant European cultures converging on Switzerland – the German speaking region, the French and the Italian. Two thirds of the Swiss population lives in the Plateau, between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance, in 30 percent of the country’s surface area. There are 450 people to every 1 km2 (1,166 per square mile). This makes the country one of the most densely populated regions of Europe and a promising prospect for marketing a product. The country that we know today took its final shape only in 1848. Before that time, we cannot really speak of "Swiss history," but rather the history of its various parts, which only gradually came together.
Political Environment
Switzerland is a nation shaped by the resolve of its citizens: it is not an ethnic, linguistic or religious entity. Since 1848, it has been a federal state - one of 23 in the world and the second oldest after the United States of America. Like the U.S., Switzerland values the idea of federalism and sovereignty, which has ensured its historical survival.
The main political parties in Switzerland are the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), Social-democratic Party (SP), Radical Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Democratic Party (CVP) and the Green Party. The Federal Constitution is the legal foundation of the Confederation. It contains the most important rules for the smooth functioning of the state. It guarantees the basic rights of the people and the participation of the public. It distributes the tasks between the Confederation and the cantons and defines the responsibilities of the authorities.
Switzerland has a federal structure with three different political levels:
• the Federation
• the cantons
• the local authorities
The Federation is the Swiss designation of the State (the term Confederation is also frequently used). The Federation has authority in all areas in which it is empowered by the Federal Constitution - for example, foreign and security policy, customs and monetary p...
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...tzerland is positioned to expand its role in the global market and will continue to improve with the expansion of foreign investment and trade. It is a strong and stable market, for US companies, looking Central and Eastern European expansion.
Works Cited
Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation.
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http://www.economist.com/countries/Switzerland/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-Political%20Structure
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www.swissworld.org
Switzerland, Economy - bartleby.com 2004
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Switzerland, Economy – nationmaster.com 2004
CIA, The World Factbook, 2003
Li, Jian; What Connecticut can Learn from Switzerland’s Oscillating Economy, Fall 2003
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Switzerland and the EU – eurolegal.org 2004
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