International Politics Works… Usually

International politics works well. This statement may seem banale, but it is not. Scholars of international relations repeatedly emphasize negative developments, which is especially true for those following the realist school. In the end, we need to be aware that international politics offers both encouraging developments towards peace and stability and a depressingly enduring tendency [...]

Read more

Theories of International Relations and Investment Banking

I have written about the utility of IR theories before, but neglected one important point, namely that IR theories can help us to make wise investment decisions.

Read more

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.

Read more

The Utility of IR Theories

One question that is frequently posed to any student of international relations is what theories of IR are good for. For many, the study of international politics is of little value. But this line of thought is wrong. IR theories help us not just to understand previously obscuring things, but can help us to make [...]

Read more