["Switzerland, country of political asylum": a myth challenged by history].

"¿Switzerland, country of political asylum', is one of the myths on which the Swiss national identity is based. If we analyze the relationships between this country and political refugees throughout history...we come to the conclusion that this myth has been quite inconsistent.... We [describe] conditions that have been enacted from the seventies and then the restrictions which have progressively been imposed on the right of sanctuary during the eighties. Both confirm the ambiguous policies, varying from an open to a closed system, which Switzerland has had with regard to political refugees." (EXCERPT)