![[REPOST] GCSP Welcomes Diplomats from Iraq](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/e85c3e8298babe54b4cbe15021f49054-ed3-900x600.jpg "[REPOST] GCSP Welcomes Diplomats from Iraq")
The course covers different issues including:
- The role, rights, and obligations of the international community
- Migration: opportunities and security challenges
- International migration law
- Refugee law
- Comparing federal and decentralized systems
- Swiss federalism
- Threats to human security
- Good governance
- The role of the judicial, executive and legislative powers
- National dialogue, political thought and counter-narrative
- Gender and Security
- The role of civil society
I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.
Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme
The two highlights of the week for participants include a presentation on the ‘Introduction to Switzerland’ by Colonel Christian Bühlmann, and the visit of Palais Eynard. ‘Introduction to Switzerland’, presented the diplomats with Swiss food and drink products following an interactive session to learn more about Swiss culture and the history of federalism in the country.
Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of Regional Perspectives Programme, reflected, ‘I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.’
During the Palais Eynard visit, the course participants learned about the city of Geneva through a presentation by M. Steve Bernard, Head of the Service of External Relations. The participants also had the opportunity to meet Geneva’s Mayor Pagani and ask him questions about good governance in Geneva.
![[REPOST] Second Alumni Reception in Colombo](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/8d89a23768d558eb1a3ebc8b60c74f3a-228.jpg "[REPOST] Second Alumni Reception in Colombo")
In spite of the evening traffic around Colombo, fifteen former GCSP participants gathered at picturesque Mount Lavinia, overlooking the lights of the capital. Alumni from the first defence attaché course in Sri Lanka met colleagues who attended classes in Switzerland. Everyone described the Centre’s education as a very positive experience. Many emphasized that they have gotten more skilled in understanding global challenges. “My training at the GCSP taught me how to think strategically, at a higher level”, summarized a Sri Lankan military officer.
The alumni came from different Sri Lankan ministries, and NGOs. A couple of diplomats, among them a head of mission, as well as defence attachés, offered an external perspective. Colonel (GS) Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme, Mr Thierry Randon, Senior Programme Officer, as well as Colonel (GS, retd) André Zumstein, Course Director for the Second Defence Attaché Course in Colombo, represented the GCSP.
Reposted from GCSP website
L’idée que la Suisse, pays neutre, dépositaire des Conventions de Genève, ait pu chercher à développer une bombe atomique, peut apparaître insolite. Et pourtant, pendant la Guerre froide, la Confédération a effectivement lancé un programme militaire secret de recherches nucléaires. La conférence met en lumière les raisons principales pour lesquelles la Suisse a cherché à s’équiper de cette arme, les motifs qui l’ont finalement incitée à signer le Traité sur la non-prolifération des armes nucléaires (TNP), puis contraste le développement suisse de l’époque avec celui, contemporain, des pays proliférants.
J’ai contribué à l’ouvrage Sicherheit – Die Schweiz in einer unsicheren Welt édité par Hans-Christof Schregenberger, Thomas Sprecher, Heinz Spross et Robert Zingg. Mon article, intitulé « La contribution du GCSP au rayonnement international de l’armée suisse », traite de l’apport du GCSP au «soft power» suisse. Je montre comment les militaires suisses y sont formés et par quels apports le centre contribue à l’impact international de l’armée.
![[REPOST] Workshop on Cooperation Prospects in Institutional Reform and Restoring Stability in Syria](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/9a0765634720aac99fa86ec0a71de41f-f34.jpg "[REPOST] Workshop on Cooperation Prospects in Institutional Reform and Restoring Stability in Syria")
The workshop brought together 35 experts, researchers and officials from the US, Russia, Germany, the UK, France, Australia, Switzerland, and Syria. The participants gathered for two days to exchange views on stability in post-war Syria.
The vibrant discussions focused on the place of Syria in the West-Russia global power contest; institutional reforms within the political transition; prospects of cooperation on reconstruction; de-radicalization and counter-terrorism; and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).
The workshop is part of the Syria and Global Security project, jointly run by the GCSP and the Omran Centre for Strategic Studies. It is an initiative to offer a platform for collective informed discussions on Syria that eventually could build bridges between experts and researchers in order to bring peace and security to Syria, and region.
![[REPOST] Swiss professional officers at the GCSP and Brussels gather for one-week course on international security](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/d42b6cc23e41996c46391423365a19a6-3e6-900x675.jpg "[REPOST] Swiss professional officers at the GCSP and Brussels gather for one-week course on international security")
From 25 to 29 September 2017, the GCSP welcomed a group of Brigadier Generals and Colonels superior and general Swiss military officers in Geneva and Brussels. This module was organised in collaboration with Mission of Switzerland to NATO, the Embassy of Switzerland to EU, the embassy of Switzerland to the Kingdom of Belgium, and with the efficient support from the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels.
The participants discussed the Swiss Armed Forces International Relations and its multilateral and bilateral instruments. In Brussels, they were briefed on the Swiss relationships with NATO, on NATO HQ and SHAPE activities, on the EU Security and Defence Policy, and on the current Belgian Defence Policy and Capability developments. The lecturers were challenged by the participants in critical, yet fair and sensible, question and answer phases.
Among many high-quality speakers, the participants had the honour and the pleasure to hear and interact with the Director General of the EU Military Staff, Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen. An alumnus of the GCSP’s 10th International Training Course (ITC, the precursor of the Leadership in International Security Course – LISC), General Pulkkinen highlighted the importance of the GCSP training for his international Career.
Under the supervision of Director MILAK, Brigadier General Peter C. Stocker, the participants will continue their training in Birmensdorf, Kriens, and Berne.
![[REPOST] Semaine de la démocratie : ‘Future leaders’ débattent au GCSP](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/b28f58ed70fbb442ff175e8cf769a3b2-148-900x601.jpg "[REPOST] Semaine de la démocratie : ‘Future leaders’ débattent au GCSP")
La semaine de la démocratie « vise à célébrer la démocratie en rendant ses institutions et son fonctionnement plus proches encore des habitant-e-s de ce canton. De manière générale, elle crée des moments de réflexions et d’échanges entre les institutions politiques genevoises et les citoyens-ne-s, avec la perspective de renouveler et d’élargir la participation démocratique. »
Le 20 septembre, le GCSP a organisé un débat autour de la motion « La sécurité des États autoritaires est meilleure que celle des États démocratiques ». 24 écoliers secondaires ont participé activement à ce débat. Le directeur du programme de perspectives régionales, le colonel EMG Christian Bühlmann, a présenté le centre et expliqué les aspects fondamentaux de la discussion. Madame Alexandra Matas, responsable du cluster « gouvernance effective », a introduit la question et mené le débat. Le Dr Jean-Marc Rickli, responsable du cluster Risque global et résilience, ainsi que Monsieur Tobias Vestner, responsable du cluster Sécurité et Droit, ont présenté chacun les arguments pour et contre la motion. Les participants ont eu la possibilité de questionner les arguments des conférenciers et d’échanger leurs points de vue sur les questions du droit international, de la séparation des pouvoirs ainsi que sur les conditions économiques et sécuritaires dans les régimes démocratiques et autoritaires.
Au vote final, la majorité des participants est confiante que « la sécurité des États démocratiques est meilleure que celle des États autoritaires.»
Liens externes
Site de la semaine de la démocratie
BCN-Semaine_de_la_democratie-Introduction.pdf
Le 15 septembre 2017, j’ai donné une conférence au Club Rotary Genève Sud.
Texte de ma communication dans le cadre des journées d’études toulonnaises de l’Institut de Stratégie Comparée sur le thème BD, guerres et stratégie publiée dans Stratégique 2017/2 (115).
… who was able to take my picture me when I was not sleeping.
![[REPOST] Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland visit the GCSP](https://christianbuehlmann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/85a53a7140526325cc5885670dba10bd-9f4-900x675.jpg "[REPOST] Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland visit the GCSP")
On this occasion, GCSP Director Ambassador Christian Dussey, Ms Victoria Walker from DCAF, as well as Mr Pascal Rapillard and Lt Col Lobert from GICHD presented their respective centres. They answered questions about ongoing activities, current challenges and future developments.
The meeting was held against the background of a longstanding military cooperation and exchange between Austria, Germany and Switzerland, which is also reflected in their common interest and active support of the GCSP, GICHD and DCAF.
