Relocated from Tokyo, I’ve lived in Singapore for 7 years, and I’ve also taken 4 trips to Switzerland. One day, I suddenly realized that Switzerland and Singapore might have some similarities between them.
Although they are both small countries, they have a distinctive presence that shines across a global world. They both are active in the financial field, and institutional investors seem to be attracted towards them.
Most of all, people use them as a transition point.
For thousands of years, Switzerland has been the crucial transition point for the inland area. Its strategic value is extraordinarily high, and it works as a corridor connecting Italy, France, and Germany.
Singapore is also a crucial transition point in the bay area that connects Eastern countries and Western countries.
This similarity in transition might be the reason why their history and the spirit of their founding is also similar.
Switzerland dates back to 1291, three feudal lords united and concluded a contract called the “perpetual alliance” (just like in the startup industry, an agreement between founders) to achieve independence from Habsburg’s dominance (they wanted to suppress strategic transportation) and tyranny.
The Habsburg’s family was one of the most potent aristocracies in The Holy Roman Empire that ruled central Europe at the time.
Armed based on the Alliance, these rebel allies became a nation. For hundreds of years, they’ve protected their land from the Holy Roman Empire (which wanted to suppress this crucial transition point).
After the Holy Roman Empire fell, other powerful countries which concurred the European nations. They’ve kept their motto of being a permanently neutral country with the regime of a federal system without any dictators to this day.
The official name for Switzerland is still the “Swiss Confederation” (in the local language they call their country the “Swiss Covenanters Alliance.” Which by the way, is a cool name for a country…).
On the other hand, Singapore was first built as a British colony, and rapidly grew into an organized country. The locals of all races grew up taking British rule for granted, but one day the same Asians emerged from far north, invading, bombing, and shooting down the British rulers.
However, the objective for these Asians’ was to dominate the crucial transition point in the bay area so that they could establish supremacy over oil resources in Asian lands. The Asians talked of “co-prosperity” but what truly happened was, for the next four years, Singaporeans were strictly enforced and oppressed.
After Japanese Empire Army were defeated, they became independent as part of the Malaysian Federation. It seemed impossible at first (because of ideological and policy differences), but they became independent as a “country,” founding the small country of the Republic of Singapore and achieved a phenomenally rapid growth, even to this day.
In Singapore’s founder LKY’s famous recollection, he states that
“We were determined that we could govern ourselves and bring up our children in a country where we can be a self-respecting people.”
Crucial transition points seems to get attacked often by powerful countries or rulers because of their strategic value. Due to this sense of challenge, they are like a reflection in the mirror.
The tyranny that does not fit with the feelings of the local people would always evoke acts of independence. And, when it gets too much for the people, rebel forces naturally form, and they would lead the people to fight for their freedom. That is how the history is made. As these two countries had common challenges, they both have taken a similar path.
By the way…
I went to see that legendary contract!
The National Museum Zurich has an exhibition corner about the successive Book of Alliances. What a treasure!!
I also took time to see the legendary hill, where the alliances had formed, which is about an hour away from Zurich.
What a legendary place!
