AHC South American or Central Asian switzerland

[La Rouge Beret]

As it says on the tin how can we create an environment for a Switzerland equivalent to exist in South America or Central Asia.

So I am thinking about Paraguay, Bolivia, Bhutan, Nepal or Tibet.

 

[Joseph Solis in Australia]

I consider Uruguay as South America's Switzerland

 

[jsb]

Singapore ? (ok not really SA/CA)

Depends what you mean by like Switzerland ?

Small Y
Neutral (with militia defence) ? Y
Trade financial hub Y
Mountains X

JSB

 

[SinghKing]

As it says on the tin how can we create an environment for a Switzerland equivalent to exist in South America or Central Asia.

So I am thinking about Paraguay, Bolivia, Bhutan, Nepal or Tibet.

In South America, what about Chile?

 

[Maeglin]

The Gnomes of Kathmandu?

 

[La Rouge Beret]

Singapore ? (ok not really SA/CA)

Depends what you mean by like Switzerland ?

Small Y
Neutral (with militia defence) ? Y
Trade financial hub Y
Mountains X

JSB

Yeah that's basically what I was going for... so my requirements would also include mountains.

 

[Richard V]

Kashmir, even kinda looks like Switzerland.

 

[juanml82]

Uruguay has rolling terrain

The issue in South America is that small, mountainous countries OTL would be Ecuador and Bolivia. And to become a financial hub/fiscal paradise, the country must be easily accessible to wealthy foreigners who want to hide money from their governments. Uruguay is well situated for that wrt Argentina and Brazil. Bolivia isn't. Maybe Ecuador could turn into one - let's say you have an ATL Gran Colombia which doesn't include Ecuador because reasons and maybe a wealthier Peru. Ecuador becomes a fiscal paradise of sorts and wealthy Colombians and Peruvians make it a financial hub in order to launder money and evade their taxes

 

[Realpolitik]

Uruguay was once called the Switzerland of South America, actually.

 

[juanml82]

Uruguay was once called the Switzerland of South America, actually.

No mountains, though

 

[Ameroboto]

No mountains, though

Also, not landlocked.

 

[Plumber]

No mountains, though

Also, not landlocked.

Central Asia has the geographic requirements... Perhaps the Russian Revolution goes differently and Sultangaliev leads a Republic of Turan for a bit. A canton system is developed for different national areas. Eventually it is cut down to the mountainous heartland based around Tashkent and Samarkand.

Or to go back earlier, Britain expands faster in Central Asia, and Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand end up as more more Switzerlandesque states.

 

[La Rouge Beret]

Or to go back earlier, Britain expands faster in Central Asia, and Bukhara, Khiva and Kokand end up as more more Switzerlandesque states.

An islamic Switzerland... now that would be interesting, perhaps in that case the country would be a cross between Dubai and Switzerland.

What about Paraguay?

 

[La Rouge Beret]

Kashmir, even kinda looks like Switzerland.

Now this would be interesting perhaps an independent Kashmir following partition.

 

[Revolutionary Avocado]

Costa Rica has been called the Central American Switzerland before.

 

[Mr.Progressive]

Costa Rica has no standing army, but it's in Central America

Maybe it peacefully expands before 1900?

 

[juanml82]

An islamic Switzerland... now that would be interesting, perhaps in that case the country would be a cross between Dubai and Switzerland.

What about Paraguay?

No mountains. If Uruguay doesn't develop its financial sector, Paraguay could very well take that role, so it could count. But no mountains.

 

[Dunning Kruger]

Singapore ? (ok not really SA/CA)

Depends what you mean by like Switzerland ?

Small Y
Neutral (with militia defence) ? Y
Trade financial hub Y
Mountains X

JSB

Afghanistan

Small: Y (relative to neighbors)
Neutral (with Militia defense): Y (nobody likes it and it has strong militias)
Trade Hub: Y (Opium)
Mountains: Y

Just kidding. Sorry, couldnt resist.

 

[Dunning Kruger]

An independent Kurdistan or perhaps Armenia might pull it off.

 

[Mr.brightside]

Afghanistan

Small: Y (relative to neighbors)
Neutral (with Militia defense): Y (nobody likes it and it has strong militias)
Trade Hub: Y (Opium)
Mountains: Y

Just kidding. Sorry, couldnt resist.

With a POD in the 50s this could be very likely. Its right in the middle of Iran, India, China, and Russia. Plus not only mountains but trillions of dollars in lithium reserves.