Buochs, democracy and the Netherlands
30 June 2024
What do the small villages of Buochs (Canton Nidwalden), democracy, and the Netherlands have in common? Not much at first glance. But appearances can be deceptive.
Not only were Louis Wyrsch or Borneo Louis (1793-1858) and his son Alois (Louis) Wyrsch (1825-1888) employed in the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies for many years, but the other son of Borneo Louis, Jakob Konstantin Wyrsch (1842-1933), also had an international career.
Buochs, Protestant church, tombstone of Louis Wyrsch (Borneo Louis)
Buochs, a Protestant church, the gravestone of Alois (Louis) Wyrsch
Buochs and the so-called “Urschweiz” (the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden) are democratic mirrors for the Netherlands today.
Buochs was the birthplace and place of execution of the painter Johann Melchior Wyrsch (1732-1798) by French soldiers in 1798 when France invaded the Swiss Confederation after annexing part of the former diocese of Basel in 1792.
Pfarrkirche St. Martin and Pfarrhof
The French troops conquered Beckenried Stans and Stanstad without much resistance, but there was fierce fighting in Buochs, and many inhabitants were killed in revenge.
Johann Melchior Wyrsch, a painter recognised at home and abroad at the time, tried to mediate but was mercilessly shot. The village honours him with a statue. The Nidwalder Museum is dedicating an exhibition to the artist until 29 September 2024.
Buochs, sculptor Hans von Matt (1899-1985), statue of Johann Melchior Wyrsch
The villages and cantons on Lake Lucerne are not only of great importance for the development of modern-day Switzerland and its unique direct democracy.
The splendour of the villages and the international networking of many of their inhabitants also bear witness to their economic, cultural and cosmopolitan past and present. A major international conference was recently held in Bürgenstock.
This region is often wrongly labelled as “nationalistic”, “backwards”, or “primitive” by certain circles in Switzerland.
Buochs
Politically, they tend to be conservative, an excellent counterbalance to the often opportunistic and (morally) superior thinking of circles in the more urbanised cantons.
The Urschweiz, as it has proven since 1291 against Habsburg, Burgundy, France, the Italian dukes and the German emperors and other leaders, has no fear. Its inhabitants also traded, studied, or waged war on all continents.
Its political compass deserves more respect even if the results of direct democracy and most cantons do not please everyone. After all, the Supreme Federal Court still can correct apparent cases of “conservatism” (e.g.Appenzell Innerrhoden 1990).
Beckenried
Suppose the possible new treaty with the European Union is not subject to a mandatory referendum. In that case, Switzerland would be at the same (low) political level as the Netherlands, with all the consequences.
In a 2005 referendum on the European Union in the Netherlands, an overwhelming majority (62% against 37%) voted against further European integration.
Not because this majority is against a European Union, but against this European Union and the lack of a relevant say in the most critical issues with far-reaching consequences.
Geneva, referendum September 2022
It was the first-ever national referendum. Until then, citizens had never had the opportunity to have a say in developing this European Union. The European Union was and is never an issue in national and European elections, only to make the most far-reaching decisions and the associated consequences.
Voter turnout was almost 70 per cent, compared to 30-40 per cent in European elections. Politicians, the media, academics, and the bureaucracy reacted by abolishing the referendum and ignoring the result.
“Highly educated” says nothing about mentality, wisdom and integrity, and even supposedly “less educated” people are highly educated in their field, especially in Switzerland.
Direct democracy in Switzerland is not old-fashioned but modern and tailored to the age of international, technological and social developments. It is a good indicator and barometer of the problems and bottlenecks in society that politicians cannot ignore.
It does not mean that direct democracy is ideal. The “inflation” of popular initiatives and some results may be wrong or sometimes problematic. But that is precisely the strength of the federal model, which is based on subsidiarity and compromise: In the end, there is always further discussion, and the result is usually well-founded, even if the political process sometimes takes (too) long.
Conclusion
In 1309, Emperor Henry VIII (1278-1313) of the Holy Roman Empire granted the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden independent jurisdiction. Uri and Schwyz had already received the status of imperial immediacy in the 13th century, Unterwalden in 1309.
The granting of independent jurisdiction (i.e. without interference from “foreign judges“) and imperial immediacy or free status to mountain villages (!) was unique in the Holy Roman Empire and a sign of their prestige.
The urban appearance of these villages corresponded to this status. In Switzerland, there could also be more appreciation for these communities, even if their political clock ticks differently.
(Source and further information: Gemeinde Buochs, Gemeinde Beckenried, Gemeinde Stansstad)
Impressions of Buochs
Hotel Rigiblick am See (1912)
Impressions of Stansstad
