James Schwarzenbach

Who was James Schwarzenbach?

James Schwarzenbach was a right-wing, Republican Swiss politician, in the 1970s head of the short-lived Republican Movement and publicist of fascist, völkisch and antisemitic literature, his Thomas-Verlag.

He was born to a Protestant industrialist family and went on to develop publishing industries. He converted to Roman Catholicism while at university, at the age of 22.

Schwarzenbach was member of the Swiss National Council representing the National Action in the legislature between 1967 and 1971. Schwarzenbach's Republican Movement originated as a split of National Action in 1971, with which it merged once again in 1990, into the Swiss Democrats.

Buomberger claimed that Schwarzenbach's ideology is racist, nationalist, xenophobic and given to antisemitic and anti-communist conspiracy theories, and he emphasizes Schwarzenbach's role as pioneer in European right-wing populism which outside of Switzerland grew to notability only in the 1980s with parties such as the French Front National.

Schwarzenbach is chiefly known for his initiative on Überfremdung that was put to the vote in 1970. The referendum had a record turnout, with 45% of the votes supporting Schwarzenbach's proposal.