“Neutrality is not an obstacle here” : En studie av schweizisk identitetssäkerhet i relation till sanktioner mot Ryssland 2022

Switzerland’s long-standing policy of permanent neutrality has functioned as a cornerstone of its foreign-policy identity. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Switzerland’s subsequent decision to align with EU sanctions against Russia, intensified domestic and international contestation over whether economic coercion is compatible with strict neutrality. This thesis asks: how does Switzerland construct autobiographical narratives of itself as a neutral state in connection with the adoption of sanctions against Russia in 2022? Drawing on ontological security theory, and particularly the role of autobiographical narratives in maintaining identity continuity, the study applies an interpretivist narrative analysis to Swiss official state discourse. The analysis shows that Switzerland stabilises neutrality by redefining it as a rule-bound, legal practice of military non-involvement rather than value-neutrality, while reiterating clear ‘red lines’ regarding arms transfers and alliance commitments. Two bridging narratives make sanctions intelligible as consistent with neutrality: an initial ‘loophole’ narrative framing measures as preventing Switzerland from enabling circumvention, followed by a more durable narrative of Switzerland as a distinctive rule-of-law state defending international law, multilateralism and humanitarian tradition. Sanctions are thus framed as siding with the legal order rather than a belligerent party, mitigating ontological anxiety and preserving identity coherence.