Every month, former Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin shares a piece of reading that has struck a chord with him.
Major entrepreneurs played a direct role in building the federal state born in 1848. These economic figures subsequently became rarer, often giving way to the leaders of employers' associations. An evolution that has left its mark.
Saint Patrick's College, near Dublin, has spanned more than two centuries of Irish history. The destiny of this unique Catholic institution reveals a past marked by political and religious conflict.
In his new book «Pax atomica?», based on thirty years of experience, demographer Bruno Tertrais retraces the history of the nuclear bomb and defends the idea that it has been and will remain a factor of peace between states... With a few nuances.
Many studies of the reign of Frederick II, King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, emphasize the authoritarian nature of the regime he led. To leave it at that, however, would be to overlook the liberal orientation of the political writings of this «enlightened despot».
Self-confident yet beset by doubts, Alexis de Tocqueville was a paradoxical man. In his biography, Olivier Zunz, Professor Emeritus of U.S. History at the University of Virginia, demonstrates the relevance of the author of the seminal book «Democracy in America».
«Si le XVIe siècle fut celui des grandes découvertes géographiques, le XVIIe, lui, vécut un début de mondialisation.» Tous les mois, l’ancien conseiller fédéral Pascal Couchepin partage une lecture qui l’a interpelé.
She didn't mince her words. Lawyer, member of parliament and writer, Gisèle Halimi held positions that required a voice. Yet it was her lawyer's robe that gave her the greatest impact. A look back at a career that should inspire many others.
If there's one country where the army is a constant topic of debate, it's Switzerland. A look back at the history of an institution that is still very much alive, built on a militia system that has no equivalent anywhere in the world.
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