«Dornach 1499»  and the Swiss Confederation around 1500

12 February 2025

«Dornach 1499»  Documentary (45 minutes, German language) by Francis de Andrade (idea and production) and Moritz Willenegger (scenario and realisation). At the end of the 15th century, the northern regions of today’s Switzerland were at war with the Habsburg Empire along the current borders. The documentary explains the background and outcomes of this conflict.  Contents: … Read more » “«Dornach 1499»  and the Swiss Confederation around 1500”

A Sustainable Democracy with a Future

11 January 2025

Amid authoritarian monarchies, 25 cantons in the middle of Europe with a desire for freedom founded a democratic state in 1848. Modern Switzerland emerged from the old Confederation and laid the foundations for an unprecedented economic boom. In the German-language publication, the author shows what it takes to build a liberal democracy based on the … Read more » “A Sustainable Democracy with a Future”

Winston Churchill and Switzerland

11 January 2025

Winston Churchill came to know, appreciate, and cherish Switzerland as a young man. At a young age, he climbed Monte Rosa, admired the beauty of the Bernese and Valais Alps, and nearly drowned in Lake Geneva. As a minister in eight different departments and prime minister (1940-1945, 1951-1955), Switzerland was one of many subjects for … Read more » “Winston Churchill and Switzerland”

The long History of the City and Canton of Basel

28 March 2024

Available in German

Le Style sapin. Une expérience Art nouveau

8 March 2024

Available in French

The long Process of Political Integration in Switzerland

18 December 2023

As a critical friend of Switzerland, Karl Wolfgang Deutsch (1912-1992) addressed in 1976 the challenges of the 20th and the 21st century for Switzerland. In the main part of the text, Deutsch deals with the “special case Switzerland”, the so-called – nowadays criticised – “Sonderfall der Schweiz” (special case Switzerland). The basic question to be … Read more » “The long Process of Political Integration in Switzerland”

The history of the French language in the Romandie

7 August 2023

The book presents for the first time a complete overview of the linguistic history of the different regions of today’s French-speaking Switzerland, from the Celts and Romans, the Franks, Burgundians, and Huguenots to the present day. This linguistic history is accessible to a wide readership and is based on scholarly research. The book traces the … Read more » “The history of the French language in the Romandie”

The Politics and Government of Switzerland

18 July 2023

The Politics and Government of Switzerland is a study of Swiss politics. It offers wide coverage of Swiss political forces, processes and policies. The author argues that Switzerland is a vibrant and pluralist country with increasingly competitive politics. However, it still retains some distinctive characteristics like direct democracy. The Swiss people play, for example, a … Read more » “The Politics and Government of Switzerland”

Johann Peter Hebel. His Calender Histories in Comics & Illustrationen

29 May 2023

Available in German. (Realisation: Chantal Duocommun, publisher: Schwabe AG, Johann Peter Hebel. Kalendergeschichten in Comics & Illustrationen, Basel 2010).

The Development of the Commons in Switzerland

14 May 2023

The book focuses on the differences and similarities between local institutions (rules and regulations) and forms of commoners’ organisations (corporations of citizens and corporations) which have managed common property for several centuries and have shaped the cultural landscapes of Switzerland. At the book’s core are five case studies from Switzerland’s German, French and Italian-speaking regions. … Read more » “The Development of the Commons in Switzerland”