Wilhelm Röpke’s Utopia and Swiss Reality: From Neoliberalism to Neoconservatism

Andrea Franc

A chapter in Wilhelm Röpke (1899–1966), 2018, pp 31-40 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Franc assesses Wilhelm Röpke’s impact on Swiss domestic policy. Röpke spent the greater part of his academic life (1937–1966) in Switzerland and used the example of Switzerland as a blueprint for his social philosophy. He conveyed a utopian image of Switzerland and used Switzerland as a stylized model for the ideal neoliberal nation. In foreign affairs, Röpke’s description of Switzerland helped to improve its shattered image after WWII. Domestically, Röpke’s glorification of Switzerland strengthened its nascent nationalism. Röpke contributed to the so-called “spiritual defense” during the war. After the war, neoconservative politicians repeated Röpke’s description of Switzerland as “an exception in history.” Until today, neoconservative intellectuals and politicians use and abuse Röpke to justify, e.g., the non-joining of the European project and exceptional agricultural protectionism.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:euhchp:978-3-319-68357-7_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-68357-7_3

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