The Swiss continue to have a strong general feeling of security in 2003. While they feel secure in their own country - with 82% in February and 88% in April calling themselves "very secure" - more persons than a year ago state that their personal security has become more precarious since the terrorist attacks of New York City. Compared to December 2002, optimism with regard to Switzerland has recovered but is still clearly below the level of 2000 and 2001. The development of the global political situation is anticipated with somewhat more confidence since the end of the war in Iraq. After an unprecedented low at the beginning of the year, the willingness for a foreign policy opening in Switzerland in April is at a level comparable to the two preceding years. This implies that two thirds of the Swiss welcome a moderate opening of Switzerland granted that it does not touch on national sovereignty. While an EU-membership is still rejected overwhelmingly, the UN are enjoying great popularity. The UN have gained legitimacy in Switzerland during the Iraq crisis. The self-chosen US-role as a power of order, on the other hand, is largely met with rejection both before and after the war. A further approach to Nato - not to mention an actual joining of Nato - are met with even less support than in the preceding years. Swiss military engagements out of territory are regarded with more skepticism since the war in Iraq. Many indicators suggest that the increasingly dim global situation (terrorism, Iraq conflict) has led to a higher estimation of neutrality by the Swiss than was the case in the preceding years. A protective function is attributed to neutrality more frequently again. The necessity of the Swiss military is agreed on by a large majority. However, the public more than ever perceives the armed forces as a multifunctional security organisation rather than as a purely military instrument of defence. The militia army format is preferred more strongly over a professional army again than in the preceding years.

Seit mehr als zehn Jahren führen die Dozentur für Militärsoziologie der Militärakademie an der ETH Zürich und die Forschungsstelle für Sicherheitspolitik der ETH Zürich in regelmässigen Abständen bevölkerungsrepräsentative Befragungen "Sicherheit" zur Wahrnehmung von Themen der nationalen Sicherheit im weitesten Sinne durch. Ziel dieser Erhebungen ist die Ermittlung von Trends und Tendenzen in Bezug auf: - das allgemeine Sicherheits- und Bedrohungsempfinden, - das Vertrauen in Institutionen und Behörden, - den Grad an aussen- und sicherheitspolitischer Kooperationsbereitschaft, - die Neutralität allgemein und verschiedene Auffassungen von Neutralität, - die Einstellung zur militärischen Landesverteidigung, - das sicherheitspolitische Interesse und den sicherheitspolitischen Informationsstand. Neben einem Kern von stets oder in unregelmässigen Abständen gestellten Fragen werden jährlich auch solche zu aktuellen sicherheitspolitischen Themen gestellt. Dieses Jahr betreffen diese Fragen einerseits das persönliche Sicherheitsempfinden in Zusammenhang mit dem Irakkrieg und andererseits Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der nationalen Sicherheitspolitik.