Ethnic Conflict
Switzerland and the Jura Separatist Movement
Switzerland and the Jura
•	What do you want to know?
•	What information will help you determine a cause of the conflict?
•	What information will help you determine a solution to the conflict?

•	Make sure you come prepared today to answer these questions.
Jurassian History
•	The Treaty of Vienna fixed the state boundaries of Europe following the Napoleonic Wars
–	It also fixed Switzerland’s internal borders
•	The Bishopric of Basle
–	Former controller of the Jura
–	Prominent Jurassians varied in their views with respect to the political future of it
–	Some wanted the region to become a separate canton
–	Others were disappointed when the region was awarded to Berne
The Act of Union (1815)
•	The Act of Union (1815)
–	Set the boundaries of Canton Berne to include all German-speaking areas in that portion of Switzerland
–	It also took in the former bishopric of Basle, which became known as the “Bernese Jura”
•	Primary result:
–	The boundaries of Canton Berne extended from the Alps to France
•	Guaranteed the people of the predominantly Catholic districts of the North Jura would be allowed to practice their traditional faith
•	Guaranteed that the predominantly Protestant districts of the South Jura would be ruled by the same laws as were the Protestant inhabitants of Canton Berne
The Jurassian Movements
•	At least six separatist movements appeared in the Bernese Jura during the following century and a half
•	The First:	1826 – 1831
•	The Second:	1834 – 1836
•	The Third:	1839 – 1846
•	The Fourth:	1867 – 1878
•	The Fifth:	1910 – 1918
•	The Sixth (a):	1947 – 1978
•	The Sixth (b):	1978 – present

The First Movement
•	During the 1820’s many Jurassian intellectuals were influenced by liberal political ideas affecting Europe
–	What were these ideas?
–	Why would they particularly affect this area of Switzerland?
The First Movement
•	The New Constitution
–	Supporters:
•	German-speaking regions of Canton Berne 
•	Anti-clerical Jurassians 
•	Patrician rulers of Berne 
•	Liberals of both language groups
–	Why did these groups come together?
•	The groups adopted a cantonal constitution which guaranteed civil rights to the population
–	Established representative democracy
–	Recognized French as second official language
•	Because of the recognition of the “French Fact” in the Bernese Jura, most Jurassians felt they were being allowed to participate fully in the government of Canton Berne
The Second Movement
•	This power struggle involved the Catholic Church
–	1834 government of Berne adopted a declaration that proposed to 
•	nationalize the Catholic Church,
•	democratize its organization
•	 subordinate it to the state
–	This was condemned by the Pope
–	Unrest and dissatisfaction followed in northern Jura
•	Why?
•	In 1836,
–	Approximately 8,000 Catholic Jurassians petitioned not to ratify the agreement
–	The Bernese legislature disregarded the petition and voted in favor of the ratification
•	As a result
–	Several towns in the northern Jura called for separation and rose in open rebellion
•	Jurassian rebels asked for the help of France
–	France sent an ultimatum to Berne and threatened war
•	Bernese government backed down, rescinded the ratification of the offending principles, and agreed to negotiate the dispute with the Papal authorities
–	Peace and order were restored
–	The second Jura separatist movement dissolved

The Third Movement
•	The parliamentary delegation demanded unanimously in the Bernese legislature that the Code Napoleon be restored to the whole Bernese Jura
•	The Bernese legislature refused and separatist agitation arose in the northern Jura
•	In 1846, Drafting of a new constitution of Canton Berne
–	Constitution confirmed recognition of both French and German as fully equal official languages
–	Permitted the Bernese Jura to retain the Code Napoleon
–	The constitution was accepted and the third Jurassian separatist movement ended
–	The period that followed, from 1846 to 1867, was one of relative political stability both for the Bernese Jura and for Canton Berne
The Fourth Movement
•	The Church vs. the State
–	Pope Pius IX held decidedly anti-liberal views
•	What does this mean, exactly?
•	These views led to a subsequent rift in relationship between Catholic church and the State
–	Berne passed laws restricting those who were religiously affiliated from teaching school
•	Why would they do this?
–	Led to the fourth separatist movement staring in 1867
•	Events in the fourth movement:
–	Promulgating the notion of Papal Infallibility caused the formation of “Old Catholics” in 1869
–	The Bernese government aided the Old Catholics
–	Canton Berne wanted to replace the Roman Catholic church and sought secular ways achieve that goal
–	The northern Jura opposed these new anti-catholic laws
•	As a result, the Bernese  militarily occupied the north
•	Finally, northern Jura leaders proposed creating a separate canton in Bernese Jura
•	This made is a federal issue
–	Swiss government stepped in and restored expelled priests in 1875
–	Compromise was reached between Canton Berne and Roman Catholic Church
The Fifth Movement
•	Immediately after WWI
–	Massive German immigration in Europe
–	The immigration into Canton Berne led to efforts to “Germanize” Bernese Jura
•	Obviously, this was not a good situation for francophone Jurassians
–	The immigration unified Jurassians in the north and the south and those who were Protestant and Catholic
•	Why???
The Sixth Movement (a)
•	Began at the end of WWII
–	What would cause this?
•	Spark:
–	Denial of the nomination of M. George Moeckli (a Jurassien) to the Bureau of Public Works
•	Three political groups formed for this issue:
–	Force démocratique
•	Supported continued union
–	Movement for the Unity of Jura
•	Greater autonomy
–	Rassemblement Jurassien
•	Supported secession
–	The Front de libération du jurassien (FLJ) became an offshoot of the RJ, seeking to achieve their goals by any means necessary
•	Bernese government made some concessions
•	North Jura not fully pleased
•	What were the reactions of each party?
–	RJ (Rassemblement jurrassien) the new MSJ
–	FLJ (Front de Liberation jurassien) responsible for terrorist attacks
–	MUF (The Movement for the Unity of Jura) wanted to create a dialogue between separatists and anti-separatists
•	Referendum options:
–	Autonomous status of Bernese Jura
–	New Canton Jura
•	Referendum held in 1959
–	In Favor:	48%
–	Opposed:	52%
•	Referendum held in 1974
–	In Favor:	48%
–	Opposed:	52%
•	The results of the second referendum:
–	Northern Jura allowed to split off
–	It became a canton in 1979
–	The southern Jura remained with Canton Berne
•	Why is this not the end of the story?
–	What more could they want?
–	Did the people not speak?
The Sixth Movement (b)
•	Goal:
–	Reunification of northern and southern Jura
•	It is here that the terror campaign began
–	In the 1980s and 1990s, the FLJ perpetrated a terror campaign aimed at uniting the two halves of Jura
–	A new referendum was offered and voted upon in 1995
•	Each village could decide to join with Canton Jura or remain with Canton Berne
•	The result was that the village of Vellera voted to join with Canton Jura
So…
•	What was the answer?