Switzerland and Its Neutrality within Contemporary Geopolitics

A conversation with Pascal Lottaz [27FEB2025]

I had the pleasure to ask the Japan-based Swiss political scientist Pascal Lottaz (neutralitystudies.com) about his analysis regarding the current geopolitical situation and the role “the West” and Switzerland are playing. He generously and concisely elaborated – in a pedagogical exposé for a global audience – about Swiss neutrality and current realities and discussions in Switzerland regarding this issue.

In this post, I publish the 20-minutes second part of the conversation, in which Pascal Lottaz first expands regarding Switzerland’s politics over the past years between neutrality, economic sanctions, considerations regarding the delivery of weapons and dominant narratives. He then also discusses the so-called “Neutrality Initiative” – a soon-to-be-held referendum on the federal (national) level in Switzerland whose proponents aim to add a section specifying the range of application of Switzerland’s permanent and armed neutrality in the country’s constitution – as well as the deeper ongoing debate in Switzerland.

For the record, and for people who may be interested, I also publish the entire conversation below. The conversation started with Pascal Lottaz outlining his take on contemporary geopolitics and global order. In a follow-up question, I asked whether he thinks about current US moves as part of a “continuity of agenda” and mere “division of labour” between US and EU (as argued for instance by Brian Berletic), or whether he sees an actual inner-Western split. He argues that it is too early to tell, but that there is a clear change on the tactical level, whereas this may well turn out to be continuity on the strategic level within the continued pursuit of primacy and unipolar hegemony.

A longer conversation in German (also a dubbed version in French) – recorded the same day – is available on Pro Ethica’s website or YouTube channel.