How a far-right rally put Swiss authorities in an awkward position
On October 15, 2016, a small village in German-speaking Switzerland hosted a concert organized by RAC (Rock Against Communism), attended by over 5,000 people. The concert became a national event thanks to the attention of the mainstream media, and raised a wave of questions and indignation in the country. This article recounts the way in which this “neo-Nazi concert” was publicized and its consequences for the Swiss political community. It shows how this far-right rally became a public problem, and draws attention to the political and legal difficulties the Swiss authorities must face when dealing with “this kind” of event. The study of this “neo-Nazi concert” highlights a constitutive tension of liberal democracies : the dilemma, in a state governed by the rule of law, between fundamental freedoms and public security.