The South China Sea Dispute: A Glimpse into our Future?

This post unravels some of the main aspects of the South China Sea dispute, which has recently gained some spotlight in media and politics. Thereby, it offers a glimpse into one of the most important future conflicts.

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International Law, Great Powers, and Switzerland’s Foreign Policy

There are two discussions ongoing in Switzerland that deserve our attention. The first one is about the importance of public international law, the second one relates to the cooperation with great powers. I argue that the core of both these discussions is misguided.

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The Strong Do What They Can, the Weak Arrange

Common knowledge in IR theories tells us that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. Surprisingly, structural realism teaches us that this is not entirely true. The weak arrange. They develop strategies that allow them to conduct an independent and active role in international politics. Anything else would contradict [...]

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