Unerhörte Appelle
Moral-Diskurs am Beispiel der spanisch-schweizerischen Waffenausfuhr und des Spanien-Tourismus
Philosophische Fakultät
Capital and Morals are a well-known dichotomy that until now has above all interested
philosophers and social-scientists. On the basis of two case-studies in postwar
times the different uses of moral arguments in public political discourse in
Switzerland are presented: Arms trade and tourism to Spain. After WWII Switzerland
intensified its relations with the Franco regime. Swiss banks granted Spain
large credits to shore up the Spanish economy after the civil war. In addition, Swiss
firms founded affiliated companies on the Iberian peninsula. In the early 70s Spanish
demand for Swiss arms increased vertiginously, and the regime became the
second biggest customer of the Swiss armament industry. At the time Spain had
become one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe thanks to the
targeted
promotion of tourism, which aimed at improving national revenues as
well as brightening the tarnished image of Spain’s dictatorial regime. Especially in
the late 60s the Left began to question this problematic relationship from a moral
point of view. Despite the high percentage of voters in favour of radically curbing
the export of arms and despite the existing laws, the Swiss Federal government
downplayed criticism of Spain. Correspondingly, left-wing politicians criticized
the Swiss tourists who travelled to Spain without taking into account the country’s
precarious situation concerning human rights. Appeals to choose alternative destinations
for travelling abroad were widely ignored.
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