Historical Dictionary of Switzerland - (Historical Dictionaries of Europe) 2nd Edition by Leo Schelbert (Hardcover)

About the Book

This updated second edition of Historical Dictionary of Switzerland features the nation's multicultural and democratic traditions and institutions, its complex history, and its people's involvement in past and present world affairs.

Book Synopsis

Switzerland's exceptional scenic beauty of valleys, lakes, and mountains, its central location on international trade routes, and its world famous banking system are just a few elements that have contributed to its rise in the global market. It consists of twenty-six member states, called cantons and it's actively engaged in the maintenance of peace among nations. The history of the Swiss Confederation is as rich and varied as its culture and people.

This updated second edition of Historical Dictionary of Switzerland features the nation's multicultural and democratic traditions and institutions, its complex history, and its people's involvement in past and present world affairs. This is done through a list of abbreviations and acronyms, a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, maps, a bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to know more about Switzerland.

Review Quotes

"Part of the 'Historical Dictionaries of Europe' series, the second edition of this work updates an excellent 2007 first edition. To cover Switzerland's complex and interesting history, Schelbert created or edited more than 500 entries. In addition to history, the dictionary addresses the country's culture, economy, and complex government. Readers will appreciate the chronology, which gives an overview of Swiss history from the first traces of human presence through the early 21st century, with final entries covering topics such as national voter initiatives in late 2003 and civil marriage rights in 2005. Overall, Schelbert offers a very strong overview of Swiss history, culture, and society, accompanied by a fine bibliography of sources useful for further study. . . [T]his is an excellent work for anyone interested in Switzerland. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers." --Choice Reviews

"This publication updates the first edition of the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. . . .Entries have been revised to include current information, from as late as September 2013, and more than 40 new entries have been added. . . .Examples of new content include controversies about women's headscarves and the construction of minarets as indicators of domestic discomfort with Muslim immigrants; unresolved disputes with the United States and OECD about the possibility of tax evasion under the tradition of secrecy in banking; and changes in the status of women in law, politics, and the economy." --American Reference Books Annual

Part of the 'Historical Dictionaries of Europe' series, the second edition of this work updates an excellent 2007 first edition. To cover Switzerland's complex and interesting history, Schelbert created or edited more than 500 entries. In addition to history, the dictionary addresses the country's culture, economy, and complex government. Readers will appreciate the chronology, which gives an overview of Swiss history from the first traces of human presence through the early 21st century, with final entries covering topics such as national voter initiatives in late 2003 and civil marriage rights in 2005. Overall, Schelbert offers a very strong overview of Swiss history, culture, and society, accompanied by a fine bibliography of sources useful for further study. . . [T]his is an excellent work for anyone interested in Switzerland. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers.

This publication updates the first edition of the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. . . .Entries have been revised to include current information, from as late as September 2013, and more than 40 new entries have been added. . . .Examples of new content include controversies about women's headscarves and the construction of minarets as indicators of domestic discomfort with Muslim immigrants; unresolved disputes with the United States and OECD about the possibility of tax evasion under the tradition of secrecy in banking; and changes in the status of women in law, politics, and the economy.

About the Author

Leo Schelbert is professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has authored or edited several books and some fifty articles that explore the history of Swiss abroad as part of the European and Neo-European rise to world dominance between 1500 and 1900. Among other books he wrote the first edition of the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. In 2006 he was awarded the Swiss Abroad of the Year Prize 2006 by the Free Democratic Party (FDP) International, a section of one of Switzerland's leading political parties.