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Class Struggle and Class Compromise in the Netherlands and Switzerland (1914-1940)
| Comparative studies – mainly in political science – often describe the Netherlands and Switzerland as similar cases of a liberal-corporatist way of interest intermediation between labour and capital. However the historical explanation of these similarities remains rather superficial. Especially the sharp class conflicts that occurred in both countries during and just after World War I as well as during the crisis of the 1930s are rarely considered in the comparative literature. Based on an extensive study of the relevant historical literature and key sources, this paper presents a comparative and historical study on the changing forms of the relationship between labour and capital in these two states. The paper argues that besides the often mentioned fragmented character of the civil societies in both states, the peculiar role of both countries in the international economy and the impact of World War I have to be taken into consideration also. Additionally key events in the history of the neighbouring larger countries such as the German revolution of November 1918, the end of German democracy in 1932/33 and the French Popular Front in 1936 had a strong influence on the relationship between labour, capital and the state in the Netherlands and Switzerland. The analysis of these processes and events allows to explain, why the Netherlands and Switzerland in the 1930s neither turned to Fascism or another form of authoritarian regime nor to a centre-left alliance in the style of the New Deal or the social-democratic models of the Nordic states.
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