Elements for the Analysis of the Sets of Values in Switzerland

• Published in: Journal of peace research 1975-01, Vol.12 (2), p.151-157
• Main Authors: Allamand, J. P., de Rham, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis/Analyses/Analyzing; Armies; Factor/Factors/Factorial; Fences; International relations; Military ethics; Military service; National security; Political attitudes; Political debate; Social ethics; Solidarity; Switzerland/Swiss; Value/Values/Valuation/ Valuations
• ISSN: 0022-3433; 1460-3578
• DOI: 10.1177/002234337501200207

In February 72, 32 priests and persons from the French-speaking part of Switzerland jointly refused to do any military service. The public reaction was exceptional in scope. More than 1,760 articles were published in the newspapers during the two months which followed. They constituted an exceptional material for the study of the conflicting sets of values found within Swiss society. This paper is the result of a content-analysis applied to the articles written in French. The research is foucused on the level of values and tries to analyse the coherence of proponents' views and the relationships between their various arguments. Forty-five variables of content were constructed, each having two alternative variants, one 'classic' and the other 'innovatory'. These dichotomous variables have been plotted according to the type and scope of the five themes they cover: general attitude, the international system, Swiss society, the national defence, and the Churches. The main trend in the opinion expressed was traditional ('classic'), particularly about the theme of Swiss society. However, uncertainty appears about the role of the national defence and the function of the army; the sphere of external relations is less coherent than that of domestic relations. The maintenance and strength of a '$wiss creed' is attested.