The Dufour map and the European Union

14 July 2026

The topographical map of Switzerland at a scale of 1:100,000, better known as the Dufour map, still provides numerous historical, cultural and political points of reference today. The map’s creator, Guillaume-Henri Dufour (1787–1875), served as a general during the Sonderbund War (1847) and was a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the time of its foundation (1863).

The Dufour Map

This map is an interesting source from a cultural, historical and political perspective, as it illustrates for the first time the federalist cooperation between the country’s various cantons. It symbolises the emergence of the modern Swiss nation-state, founded in 1848.

The Dufour Map at the Federal Palace in Bern symbolises the founding of the Confoederatio Helvetica. The symbolism of the Rütli Oath and the map illustrate the long history of its formation, from the late Middle Ages to the modern era.

The map does not merely show the regions and borders with neighbouring countries. It also reflects the political structure of the Swiss Confederation, comprising the cantons, whose representatives – elected by the people – sit in the National Council and the Council of States and govern the country from this building.

Furthermore, this map also symbolises values such as accuracy, precision and Switzerland’s pioneering achievements, and, in a broader sense, tradition, integration and coexistence within a cosmopolitan, multicultural and multilingual society.

Feasibility and diversity

This map and Switzerland also demonstrate what is eminently achievable for a well-functioning direct democracy, based on subsidiarity, decentralisation and federalism.

If a very young member of parliament (perhaps even the President of the National Council in 2027) aspires to greater variety and diversity, this above all testifies to a lack of knowledge, understanding and insight into Switzerland.

How diverse can a country be with four languages, 26 sovereign cantons, dialects and cultures, numerous mixed marriages and immigrants, different religions and a wide variety of landscapes? Apparently, the aim would be to transform Switzerland – which is already highly diverse – into a tribal society made up of numerous small communities with little ‘Swissness’, having little or nothing in common with one another.

The European Union

This ideology, now referred to as ‘European federalism rather than European socialism’, threatens the decentralised, federal, directly democratic model based on subsidiarity.

Even a (too) large number of members of the generation of the new Confederation of 1848 – founded by the people and the cantons – are pursuing this objective. Fear of European Union sanctions, the systematic denigration of Switzerland, and geopolitical motives (which are temporary, uncertain and unstable) are the main driving forces behind this.

In reality, there is little to be said in favour of abandoning the Swiss model and joining the European Union (albeit on a limited basis for the time being). A transfer of constitutional, executive, judicial and legislative powers to the EU would, of course, entail EU membership.

The unstable political, societal, social, democratic and monetary situation in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands serves as a warning, not to mention the EU’s bureaucratic, technocratic, anti-democratic model, which is, above all, based on subsidies.

Conclusion

Switzerland is banking on globalisation, quality and a bottom-up innovative model, whilst the EU is based on quantity, protectionism, top-down subsidies, megalomaniacal projects, ever-increasing debt and (fiscal) powers, as well as uniform measures applied to a growing number of areas.

One thing is certain: the Dufour Map should be removed from the Federal Palace if the cantons were to be ignored – in a ‘Swiss-style coup’ – by members of parliament, in violation of both the letter and the spirit of the 1848 Constitution.

Dogmatic ideology, wishful thinking and the need to ‘be part of it’ are replacing Swiss pragmatism, realism, a sense of what is achievable and attention to detail. Neither the broad outlines nor the details, nor the numerous (constitutional) consequences – whether foreseeable or not – of the proposed new treaty with the EU, suggest that the outcome will be favourable for Switzerland.

(Source and further information: www.swisstopo.ch/dufour)