Swiss Specialties. Switzerland’s Role in the Genesis of the Telegraph Union, 1855‐1875

Balbi, Gabriele and Fari, Simone and Calvo, Spartaco and Richeri, Giuseppe (2013) Swiss Specialties. Switzerland’s Role in the Genesis of the Telegraph Union, 1855‐1875. Journal of European Integration History, 19 (2). pp. 183-330. ISSN 1477-2280

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Abstract

This paper aims to rethink the early history of the Telegraph Union (today called the International Telecommunications Union) focusing on the political, diplomatic, economic and technical role played by Switzerland during the ten years preceding and following its creation (1855‐1875). The ITU’s history is a quite neglected topic in telecommunication history and the role of Switzerland in its formation and management has gone practically unnoticed by historians, which is surprising for three reasons. First, Switzerland was (and still is) the seat of the Bureau. Second, up to World War II, the Bureau’s secretary was a Swiss citizen. Finally, the Bureau was placed under the direct control of the Swiss government. Our main statement is that the political economy of Switzerland (based on neutrality, diplomacy, internationalism, and technicity) influenced the origins of ITU.

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