Revisiting neutrality: demand for Swiss diplomacy's 'good offices' has fallen sharply since the Berlin wall collapsed in 1991. But a Zurich scholar says a more activist 'peace facilitator' role now fills that gap well.

Swiss News › Nbr. 2005, January 2005

Author: Shepard, Lyn

Position:: Politics

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Politics

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Revisiting neutrality: demand for Swiss diplomacy's 'good offices' has fallen sharply since the Berlin wall collapsed in 1991. But a Zurich scholar says a more activist 'peace facilitator' role now fills that gap well.

Swiss historian Daniel Trachsler recently wrote his doctoral thesis at the University of Zurich on the role of a post-World War II foreign minister (1945-1961), Max Petitpierre and the doctrine that bears his name.

It's still a timely topic, since neutral Switzerland became the world's leading mediator between countries not on speaking terms throu...

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