Denis MacShane: Another vote of confidence for a global community

'Across the world, nations are dividing into two camps: internationalists and isolationists'

Referendums work. Votes by the Swiss people and the majority of their cantons to enter the United Nations mark an historic victory for two reasons. It is a clear Yes to the United Nations as that imperfect but more than ever necessary organisation seeks a new role. And it is a decisive No to the growing tide of inward-looking, unilateral, nation-first politics promoted by conservatives of both the right and left in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

This is an important victory for the reformers in Switzerland in their battle with nationalist and populist politicians. For too long, a powerful combination of right-wing Alpine "nation-firstism" and the big money used to finance it has held Switzerland back, stopping it from taking on responsibilities or entering into alliances beyond its frontiers. In 1992, the Swiss voted against membership of the European Economic Area. Last year, the Swiss said No to even preliminary negotiations on EU membership.

So when the UN vote was called many feared that the same Swiss No would be applied to joining in the new world movement for global rule of law and global partnerships in the United Nations and other supra-national bodies.

It didn't work because the Swiss campaign in favour of the UN was low-key, and based on calm factual argument. The campaign was conducted by means of hundreds of small-town meetings deep in Switzerland's valleys and plains.

It was a victory for the origins of modern Switzerland. These lie in the application of 18th century reason and constitutional principle. It was a defeat for the ugly 19th-century passions of nationalism that took Switzerland to the brink of civil war in 1848.

Switzerland has been searching for a role since the end of the Cold War. Buffeted by fascism and communism in the 20th century, the Swiss clung to their neutrality, which was expressed by not joining any outfit that at some stage could, theoretically, impose orders on their confederation.

Since 1990 the Swiss have found out that neutrality and rejection of supra-nationalism was no protection. Indeed, they have found themselves at a disadvantage. Most Swiss laws today have to conform to or take account of EU legislation; and – because they don't belong – they have no say in drafting EU law.

Switzerland has had to accept a far higher number of Balkan asylum-seekers relative to her size than any other European country. Neutrality is no protection against fundamentalism and terrorism. Anti-globalisation fanatics were able to wreck the peace of the Alpine city Davos, the subject of Thomas Mann's mournful The Magic Mountain. Despite becoming the object of such world developments, Switzerland has no seat at the table where global policy was decided.

But if the Swiss need the UN, the United Nations needs the Swiss and their excellent diplomats. The great gift to humanity from Switzerland in the 19th century was the Red Cross, but today noble institutions based on humanitarian idealism are not enough.

The UN and its key institutions – like the Geneva-based WHO, the ILO, the UNHCR, and the UN Commission on Human Rights – are vitally important to the attempt to inch the world in a better direction. They need careful monitoring. Nothing discredits the UN more than when its agencies or its conferences start to indulge in posturing or sloganeering. Under Kofi Annan, the UN is heading in the right direction. After 11 September the UN rose to the challenge, and all the members of the UNSC spoke as one in declaring terrorism to be globally outlawed. The US recognised the key role of the UN in helping to ensure that neither warlords nor the Taliban regain power in Afghanistan.

Now the Swiss presence at the UN will help guide this essential instrument of world co-operation in sensible and productive directions. Britain, as the most internationalist of European nations, strongly welcomes the Swiss decision.

Across the world, nations are now dividing into two camps. On one side are the internationalists, those who support post-national rule of law and partnership, the multilateralists and open traders; on the other side are the isolationists, the unilateralists and anti-global protectionists.

The Swiss have rejected the closed mentality of anti-internationalism and spoken out for a future in which the best nations are the most internationalist of nations. For those, like the British Government, who strongly support the UN, the Swiss vote is a great boost. Kofi Annan's leadership won the Nobel prize for the UN. The Swiss decision to join is another vote of confidence. And for those who believe that Britain should reject the No-sayers on Europe and global engagement, and who ask the British people to affirm their European and world responsibilities, the cool breeze from the Alps is encouraging.

The author is the Foreign Office minister responsible for the United Nations