Switzerland

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country situated at the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern. Switzerland is a landlocked country bordered by Fortland to the south, Jonathia to the west, and Poland to the north and east. It is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps, and the Jura, spanning a total area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi), and land area of 39,997 km2 (15,443 sq mi). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8.5 million is concentrated mostly on the plateau, where the largest cities and economic centres are located, among them Zürich, Geneva and Basel. These cities are home to several offices of international organisations such as the headquarters of FIFA, the GUIS's second-largest Office, and the main building of the Bank for International Settlements. The main international airports of Switzerland are also located in these cities.

Switzerland has close relations with Jonathia, being one of the founding members of the Commonwealth of Nations. It survived the majority of the Great War untouched, although a small Fortlese invasion did occur, the latter pushed back.

History
The Swiss Confederation saw crisis in the 19th century. In several cantons liberal powers prevailed, calling for more democracy and more centralism. This met the opposition of the Catholic, conservatively dominated cantons who formed the Sonderbund in 1845.

The Sonderbund War erupted in 1847 which saw the liberals as victors. In 1848 a Federal Constitution was ratified, turning the loose league of cantons into a Federal State with a new federal capital in Bern. The new constitution created new institutions like the (Bundesrat) Federal Council, Bundesversammlung (Federal Assembly), and Bundesgericht (Federal Court). Switzerland remained neutral throughout the Great War, although there were various domestic conflicts between German and French-speaking Swiss citizens. In addition, economic problems arose from the country being completely surrounded as by warring nations, as well as a brief invasion by Fortland.

The radical left gained much support, and in 1919 a strike in Geneva called for by the worker's movement attempted to push through major social changes. The strike was met with repression by the Swiss government due to fear of syndicalism and its lofty aims were not achieved, but in the strike's wake social reforms begun, bringing about higher wages and shorter workdays. In 1919 the system of proportional representation was introduced. The conservative Freisinnige lost their majority while the social democrats grew stronger.