Wars and us

Warfare, past and present, has been a defining element of Switzerland’s history. The exhibition brings together a variety of perspectives, showing how ‒ from the late Middle Ages to the present day ‒ wars have influenced the nation’s political structures, economic interests and social order.

From the identity-building myths surrounding the Battle of Murten, to internal conflicts like the Peasant War of 1653 and the Sonderbund War of 1847, right through to the latent threat posed by the Second World War: warfare in all its forms has shaped the way Switzerland sees itself. Whether fought on the territory of modern-day Switzerland or elsewhere, wars can be seen to have given rise to new power relationships and social tensions – leading, for example, to the accumulation of capital through the trade in arms and mercenaries, heightened class conflict and changing gender roles.

Switzerland’s image of itself as a neutral state that promotes peace continues to play a key role to this day, especially in the foreign policy arena. In the dynamic space between threat and diplomacy, Switzerland has been able to carve out a certain amount of leeway, using its neutrality to safeguard security and foster peace. The objects and stories presented in the exhibition encourage visitors to question popular views of Switzerland’s relationship with war and to engage with a topic that often seems distant, but which is etched deeply in the collective memory.