The Swiss, in their characteristic fashion, have once again confounded the pundits. By rejecting a proposed cap on immigration, they have chosen the path of economic rationality over the chimerical pursuit of perfect sovereignty. Yet, this is not a defeat for national identity.
Rather, it is a triumph of a society confident enough to regulate without arbitrariness. Compare this to the British model, where the recent departure from the European Union was hailed as a restoration of control. The British, however, have tied themselves in knots with a points-based system that is neither here nor there.
The Swiss understand that sovereignty is not about erecting walls but about managing flows with the wisdom of a gardener, not the fury of a demolition crew. The referendum result is a reminder that true prudence lies not in the grand gesture but in the steady hand. The British could learn a thing or two about temperance from the Alpine republic.
