Switzerland and the United Nations
Despite the approaching universality of the United Nations, Switzerland continues to be a non-member. Her traditional policy of permanent neutrality, which is theoretically incompatible with the United Nations collective security system, and an unsatisfactory experience as a member of the League of Nations largely explain this absence. Ironically enough, however, Switzerland has played in effect as active a role in the United Nations as have many actual members. Switzerland belongs to most of the specialized agencies and many of the Organization's ancillary organs. She has even involved herself in numerous peacekeeping activities. Geneva serves as the Organization's European headquarters. Thus, the Swiss freely participate in what they refer to as the “technical,” as distinguished from the “political” United Nations. The increased prestige of neutrality and neutral Austria's successful membership, approaching universality, the waning of collective security, and a desire to participate fully in international relations are encouraging a gradual reorientation towards the United Nations which may some day lead to formal Swiss membership.
Neutral Austria in the United Nations
The permanent neutrality of Austria is not rooted in ancient traditions as is its model, the permanent neutrality of Switzerland. It was established as late as 1955 and may, therefore, give rise to the question of why, in an age of collective self-defense, such a seemingly outdated decision was taken.
Austria’s Permanent Neutrality
sideration and sometimes without great regard for practical utility. Certainly there was little or no correlation between recognition, or the grounds therefor, and membership or election to membership in an international union. The application of this analysis to the present Chinese situation is not easy. It hardly appears possible to envisage an indefinite tenure of Chiang or his son on Formosa, much less his return to the mainland. The opposition to substituting Communist China for Nationalist China on the Security Council would be insurmountable. We may be confronted here with a deadlock destined to endure for a decade or more. It would not appear that the United States should or could take a position other than the frankly temporizing one which—without great happiness or dignity, be it freely admitted—she is taking now. Politics, or the art of politics, especially international politics, consists of choosing between or among various different evils.