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Profile
 Switzerland's
remarkable political stability is indubitably biased upon consensus,
this is even the more remarkable when one considers that the country
is composed of four very distinctly different language communities
cum social-cultural communities, those being the German, French,
Italian and Romanish.
Switzerland maintains a policy of strict neutrality and so has been
a popular site for international agencies such as the Bank of International
Settlements and the International Red Cross.
Although this neutrality generally promotes good neighborly relations,
there are those international actors who take the position that
a country is 'against them if they are not for them'. Countries
with this idea do not have the ability to either appreciate, nor
to value the meaning of neutrality.
Although neutral, the country has had a very full supporting role
as an observer in the United Nations General Assembly which has
only just recently changed to that of full membership when Switzerland
adopted a recent referendum to join that world organization.
Switzerland has established itself as a major international banking
center, which is enhanced by the 'safe haven' status of the Swiss
franc and a very strong industrial base, despite its lack of natural
resources. These factors, plus its very high educational system
combined with a very high standard of living; help to make Switzerland
indisputably one of the most affluent countries in Europe and the
world.
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