Specialization: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Status: Visiting Faculty
Personal Profile including career highlights, and personal information
Studies in Political Science (International Relations), Social Anthropology and Journalism, with experience in public and private sectors: government, university, think tanks, media.
Education
1985-1990 The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva (CH)
Ph. D. in Political Science (International Relations).
1979-1984 The Faculty of Social Science, University Fribourg (CH)
M. A. in Social Anthropology.
1979-1983 The Faculty of Arts and Journalism, University Fribourg (CH)
M. A. in Journalism.
1969-1975 Saint Michel College, Fribourg (CH)
Federal Maturity.
Professional Experience
2012 Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bern, CH
Chief, Research and Analysis Center. Middle East and North Africa Division
2009 Webster University (Geneva) Bern, CH
Lecturer in International Relations
March-April 2009 Swiss Embassy at Damascus (Syria) Damas
Deputy Head of Mission a.i.
1999-2012 Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bern, CH
Political Analyst, Policy Planning Center
1998 Center of Political Analysis, Ottawa, Canada
Director
1997 Bowdens Media Monitoring, Ottawa, Canada
Journalist
1996-1997 Faculty of Anthropology, University Fribourg (CH)
Professor (Privat Docent)
1988-1996 Swiss Ministry for the Refugees Bern (CH)
Scientific Collaborator
1989-1990 Swiss Fund for the Scientific Research Bern (CH)
Fellow
1984-1985 The International Committee of the Red Cross Geneva (CH)
Delegate (Chief of the “Tracing Agency” in Lebanon).
1978-1979 Swiss Media, Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg (CH)
“Freelance” journalist
· Writing of articles for Swiss newspapers and reviews.
· Long stays in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Syria Morocco, Algeria and Egypt
Professional Development
Participation to the « Annual Political Dialogues » of Switzerland with Israel and with Turkey.
Preparation and organization of the agenda for the Regional Conferences of the Swiss Ambassadors in Cairo (2002) and Alger (2006).
Participation to the « Global Strategic Review Conferences » organized by the « International Institute for Strategic Studies » of London (ISS). Geneva (2005, 2007 and 2008).
By invitation of the Emir of Qatar, participation to the 4th (2006), 5th (2007) and 6th (2008) « Conference of Inter Faith Dialogue », Doha.
Since 2001, member of the « Working Group Islam » of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (representative of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Meetings in Iran (2006) and Syria (2007) with leaders of religious communities.
Supervision and coordination of researches with :
The Observatory of the Arab Countries, Paris. « The Political Regimes of the North-African Countries and the Challenge of Democratic Transition : A Question of Security for Switzerland ». (May 2006)
Professor Hans-Lukas Kieser : « The Kurd Question : Implications for Turkey » (June 2008)
Preparation and organization of three workshops at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The Arab Uprisings: Views on the Middle East”. Bernerhof, Bern (November 18-19, 2011).
“Iran, Turkey and Syria”. Bernerhof, Bern (April 27-28, 2012)
“The Middle East, Oil and the Great Powers”. Käfigturm, Bern (December 20-21, 2012).
Preparation and organization of a conference by Noam Chomsky “USA, Israel, Iran and the Arab World: Where Are We?” Club de la Presse, Geneva (July, 26, 2013)
Teaching experience at Webster
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses in International Relations:
- History of Diplomacy
- Comparative Foreign Policy
- Conduct of Foreign Policy
Professional Memberships
Member of Swiss / Swiss-based organizations and their respective activities in Israel/Palestine (Swisspeace)
Member of the International Directory of Middle East Scholars (Columbia University, New-York).
Chairman of the CRES Foundation (Centre de Recherches Entreprises et Sociétés).
Member of the Scientific Counsel at the “Geneva School of Governance”.
Founding member of the “Geneva Center for Security and Development in the Middle East”
Publications
“The Iraqi Refugee Crisis (2003-2011) An International Perspective”. Refugees and Armed Conflicts, 17th Humanitarian Conference. Webster University, Geneva (2013)
“The Arab Spring: Challenges and Perspectives for Switzerland”. Swiss Foreign Policy Report 2011. (DFAE, Bern, November 2011).
“Religions and Humanitarian Aid in the Middle East: Clash or Meeting of Civilizations?” Humanitarian Space, 16th Humanitarian Conference. Webster University, Geneva (2012).
“Energy, Democracy and development in the MENA Region”. Access to Resources and the International Community. 15th Humanitarian Conference. Webster University, Geneva (2011)
“The American Policy in the Middle East: Toward a Major Change?” The Political Direction, The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, Bern (June 2009).
“Bachar al Assad from Syria: End of Regime or New Start” Le Meilleur des Mondes” No.5, Paris (Autumn 2007).
« The Return of the Old Devils in Lebanon ». The Policy Planning Center. The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bern (April 2007).
“Governance in the South and East Mediterranean Countries: Obstacles and Challenges”. The Policy Planning Center, The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bern (August 2006).
Islam and International Relations: Towards a Clash of Civilizations?” Boèce Review, No.6, Geneva (2003).
“Islam in Switzerland: A Dialogue between Cultures”. Open Democracy, London (January 2003).
“Turkey at a Turning Point”. The Policy Planning Center, The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bern (June 2002).
“Strategy for a Swiss Foreign Policy in South and East Mediterranean Countries”. Politorbis, No.3, Bern (2001).
“The Syrian Policy in the Middle East : 20 Years of the Assad Doctrine (1970-1990)”. Ph. D. Thesis, No. 504, The Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva (1993).
“From Tribe to Nation in Black Africa”. Master in Political Anthropology (1984), Fribourg University.
Conference Papers Presented
“The Gulf Crisis”. Speech during a Conference organized by the Association “Switzerland, Middle East and Islamic Culture”. University of Geneva (January 1991).
“The Peace Process in the Middle East : Where to ?”. Speech during the Swiss Ambassadors’ Conference, Bern (August 23, 2002).
“Islam in Switzerland : A Dialogue Between Cultures”. Speech at the Goethe Institute, London (January 16, 2003).
“Relations Between Switzerland and Israel : Diplomacy and Politics”. Speech at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva (November 6, 2003).
Speech at the Conference “For a Dialogue of Civilizations” organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Teheran (April 17, 2006).
Short Intervention at the 6th (11.28-30.2007), 7th (12.07-09.2008) “Forum of Nice on Energy and Geopolitics” organized by the European Institute of International Studies (Nice).
“The New Game of Power in a Nuclear Middle East”. Speech at the Security Forum 2010, Webster University Geneva (04.16.2010).
“La dignité humaine : entre religion et politique”. Speech at the University of Qom, Iran (01.11.2011).
“Perspectives on the Arab Spring”. Speech at a roundtable organized by the Alumni of the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Bern (05.03.2011).
“The Iraqi Refugee Crisis (2003-2011) An International Perspective”. Speech at the 17th International Humanitarian Conference, Webster University, Geneva (21-22.02.2013).
“After the Arab Spring: what future for democracy?” Speech at Postgraduate Seminar of Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies: Civil Society and Democratization in Societies in Transition, Malta, 15th March 2013
Languages
French / English / German / Arab (some oral notions)