Switzerland has been globally connected and entangled with colonies established by the
seafaring European nations in Africa the Americas and Asia since the 16th century.
colonial-Switzerland's Global Entanglements offers a timely overview of this highly topical
matter placing a wide range of aspects in historical context and addressing as well questions
of colonial continuities. Contributions by distinguished scholars and experts from various
disciplines investigate questions such as the involvement of Swiss companies in the trade with
enslaved people Swiss mercenaries in the service of colonial powers the colonial legacy of
the country's missionary societies and the research and collection of artefacts by Swiss
scientists in former colonies. Light is shed also on the involvement of anthropological
institutes at the universities of Zurich and Geneva in scientific racism. Conceived as an
illustrated reader this volume is both an invitation and a stimulus to explore and to engage
critically with Switzerland's history of global interdependence.
