Case report
Dariusz Popławski: Szwajcarska polityka bezpieczeństwa” (Swiss Security Policy), The Scholar Publishing House, Warsaw 2007, 287 p., A Symbol of Neutrality
Karina Paulina Marczuk
; Poland
Abstract
Switzerland is recognized widely as a state-symbol of the policy of neutrality. For Swiss authorities for many years neutrality has been a mean to provide security and territorial integrality of the country. However, Swiss neutrality policy is still evolving and some stereotypes are not adequate nowadays. Therefore, it is necessary to explore a modern shape of security policy of Switzerland. An author who decided to conduct research on a difficult topic such as Swiss policy of neutrality is Professor Dariusz Popławski, Warsaw University, Poland. His new book is entitled “Szwajcarska polityka bezpieczeństwa” [Swiss Security Policy], published by The Scholar Publishing House, Warsaw 2007, 287 pages. Currently, Professor Popławski works for the International Relations Department at Warsaw University as well as for Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Moreover, he is a well-known expert of policy of neutrality of Austria (for more details see Popławski’s book “Austriacka polityka neutralności 1955-1995” [Austrian Security Policy 1955-1995], Warsaw 1995) as well as Switzerland. The author has published, furthermore, a considerable amount of papers on these topics. The mentioned volume “Szwajcarska polityka bezpieczeństwa” consists of introduction, seven chapter, conclusion and a wide bibliography. First, the author broaches the issue of origin and evolution of neutrality in contemporary international relations. The genesis of Swiss neutrality is discussed as well. The author highlighted the fact that “The timeless status of neutrality of Switzerland had been confirmed by superpowers in 1815 what facilitated a way of using it in re-shaping relations in Europe”. However, it was, and it is, Switzerland which is still the only one state that remains a timeless neutral. Neutrality of Sweden or Austria might be characterized in a different way. The presented volume might be recommended to everybody who would like to learn more on Switzerland, and on a neutrality concept as well. There is no other a coherent research paper which broaches so extensively the issue of Helvetic neutral policy, taking into consideration a historical as well as contemporary perspective. Therefore, students, researches on security as well as politicians should read Popławski’s book carefully.
Keywords
Switzerland; neutrality; security policy
Hrčak ID:
58787
URI
Publication date:
15.3.2009.
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