Ringen um Freiheit

The modern Swiss federal state emerged from the liberal revolution of 1848. It is built on three pillars: individual freedom, free market economy, and individual self-responsibility. On this foundation, Switzerland withstood two world wars largely unscathed and transformed from a poor alpine country into a prosperous nation. However, this foundation has become fragile. A generation is growing up that is accustomed to prosperity and increasingly views the state as a self-service store for individual desires. Historian René Lüchinger consistently traces the development, the missteps, and the complexities of the Swiss nation up to the present day, always through the lens of liberalism. Economist Gerhard Schwarz takes a look at the opportunities and dangers for liberalism in the 21st century. What constitutes freedom, what does it mean? This question is at the heart of the book.