Book Review: Switzerland and Sub-Saharan Africa in the Cold War, 1967-1979: Neutrality Meets Decolonisation

Authors

Thomas Quinn Marabello

Keywords

Cold War, Swiss history, African history

Abstract

Switzerland and Sub-Saharan Africa in the Cold War, 1967-1979: Neutrality Meets Decolonisation was written as part of the series “New Perspectives on the Cold War,” which looks at different issues, events and regions impacted by the Cold War. While Switzerland was not a major power, nor did it have colonies in Africa or elsewhere, it had economic interests in the continent and a foreign policy that guided its decision making and values, centered around its historical tradition of neutrality. This well researched work of historiography gives readers new insights into Switzerland’s relations, especially with Portuguese colonies during and after decolonization. Those colonies included Angola and Mozambique, along with Ethiopia and Somalia, where Switzerland had strong economic ties. Like most Western nations, Switzerland was opposed to communism. The Swiss government came under pressure as Africa decolonized to take a stand against Apartheid in South Africa and human rights abuses that occurred throughout the continent.

Recommended Citation

Marabello, Thomas Quinn (2023) "Book Review: Switzerland and Sub-Saharan Africa in the Cold War, 1967-1979: Neutrality Meets Decolonisation," Swiss American Historical Society Review: Vol. 59: No. 2, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sahs_review/vol59/iss2/11