Draft:Pascal Lottaz

Pascal Lottaz (born 1985) is a Swiss political scientist and academic specializing in neutrality studies, international relations, and diplomatic history. He is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University, where he also holds an appointment through the Hakubi Center for Advanced Research.[1] He is the founder and director of the Neutrality Studies Institute.[2]

Early Life and Education

Lottaz was born in 1985 and grew up in a small town in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland.[3] His first encounter with Japan came through popular culture — anime, manga, and video games — though he has noted that he did not realise these were Japanese in origin until around the age of 15 or 16.[3] At 18, he participated in a high school exchange programme in Hashimoto-shi, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan (2004–2005), living with a rural rice-farming family.[4] The experience proved formative, deepening both his Japanese language skills and his interest in Japan.

He returned to Switzerland to undertake undergraduate studies at the University of Fribourg, where he studied philosophy (2007–2010).[5] He subsequently returned to Japan for an internship at the Minato City office in Tokyo (2010),[4] before enrolling at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, where he completed a Master of Public Policy (2011–2012) and a PhD in International Relations (2014–2018).[5] His doctoral dissertation, titled Neutral States and Wartime Japan: The Diplomacy of Sweden, Spain and Switzerland toward the Empire, examined how neutral countries navigated their relations with Imperial Japan during the Second World War.[6]

Academic career

After completing his doctorate, Lottaz joined the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (WIAS) at Waseda University in Tokyo as an Assistant Professor (January 2017 – December 2022).[7] Concurrently, he served as Adjunct Professor for European Politics at Temple University Japan Campus (2017–2022).[7] He was subsequently an Adjunct Researcher at the Waseda Institute for Advanced Study (April 2022 – March 2023).[7]

In March 2023, Lottaz was appointed associate professor at the Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University, a position he continues to hold.[5] He is affiliated with the university's Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, a programme supporting outstanding mid-career researchers.[8] He also served as Secretary of the Diplomatic Studies Section of the International Studies Association (2019–2023).[7]

Research

Lottaz's central research focus is neutrality as a political and legal phenomenon in international relations and diplomatic history. He argues that neutrality is a significantly understudied concept in political science — one that mainstream international relations theory, with its emphasis on balancing and bandwagoning, cannot adequately capture.[8] His work integrates historical case studies, archival documents, literary sources, and philosophy with qualitative and quantitative political science methods, aiming to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding neutrality across periods and geographies.[9]

Neutrality studies

Lottaz leads the Neutrality Studies Institute, a research network dedicated to the academic study of neutrality and non-alignment in international relations, international law, and diplomacy.[2] He contributed the entry "Neutrality Studies" to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies (2022) and "The Politics and Diplomacy of Neutrality" to Oxford Bibliographies in International Relations (2022).[5] He also co-authored a piece in Foreign Policy magazine in June 2023 arguing for a more nuanced understanding of neutral states in the context of the Russia–Ukraine War.[10] Professor Lottaz hosts a popular Youtube channel Neutrality Studies with over 1,000 videos posted and with over 345K subscribers.[11]

Switzerland–Japan Relations and WWII Diplomacy

A prominent direction of Lottaz's historical research concerns Switzerland's diplomatic relations with Japan during the Second World War. He has examined how neutral states navigated their relationships with belligerent powers in the Asia-Pacific theatre, drawing on archival records from Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and Japan.[12] This work includes annotated editions of primary sources, such as the wartime diary of Camille Gorgé, Switzerland's Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan, who was responsible not only for the Swiss legation but also for dozens of Allied diplomats and civilians under Switzerland's "Good Office" mandates.[12]

Other Research Areas

Lottaz has also written on Korean reunification and neutrality, Mongolian foreign policy, Taiwan and cross-strait relations, and nuclear nonproliferation.[5] His broader interest lies in exploring neutral solutions as components of contemporary security architectures, including proposals for a neutral Korean Peninsula and a neutral Taiwan as mechanisms for reducing great-power tensions.[7]

Selected Publications:

  • Books (as editor or co-editor)
  • Notions of Neutralities (Lexington Books, 2019; co-edited with Herbert R. Reginbogin)[7]
  • Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice (Lexington Books, 2020; co-edited with Herbert R. Reginbogin)[13]
  • Sweden, Japan, and the Long Second World War (Routledge, 2021)[13]
  • Neutral Beyond the Cold: Neutral States and the Post-Cold War International System (Lexington Books, 2022; co-edited with Heinz Gärtner and Herbert R. Reginbogin)[13]
  • Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime 1958–1968 (Routledge, 2023; co-edited with Yoko Iwama)[14]
  • Selected Articles and Book Chapters
  • "Neutrality Studies." Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies (2022)[5]
  • "The Politics and Diplomacy of Neutrality." Oxford Bibliographies in International Relations (2022)[5]
  • "Dual-neutrality for the Koreas: A two-pronged approach toward reunification" (with Tumurjin Ganbaatar). Defense & Security Analysis, 38(3), 284–295 (2022)[5]
  • "The Future of Neutrality." GCSP Policy Brief (2023)[5] "In Defense of Neutrals: Why They're More Than Just Fence Sitters" (with Heinz Gärtner). Foreign Policy (June 2023)[15]
  • "Going East: Switzerland's Early Consular Diplomacy toward East and Southeast Asia." Traverse: Zeitschrift für Geschichte (2020)[7]
  • "Violent Conflicts and Neutral Legations: A Case Study of the Spanish and Swiss Legations in Wartime Japan." New Global Studies, 11(2), 85–100[6]

Database profiles

Scopus ID 57299071100 ORCID 0000-0002-9737-9760

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CeXawRQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Lens.org: https://www.lens.org/lens/search/scholar/list?q=author.display_name:(%22Pascal%20Lottaz%22)&p=0&n=10&s=date_published&d=%2B&f=false&e=false&l=en&authorField=author&dateFilterField=publishedYear&orderBy=%2Bdate_published&presentation=false&preview=true&stemmed=true&useAuthorId=false

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/pages/search/publications?searchId=91bd27ee-445a-4ee4-85a4-92e6ef85e58e

Affiliations and Memberships

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University (2023–present)[5] Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University[9]

European Leadership Network (ELN), Associate[13]

Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (SCCIJ), Member[3]

International Studies Association (ISA); former Secretary, Diplomatic Studies Section (2019–2023)[7]

Publications

(1) Lottaz, P. Violent Conflicts and Neutral Legations: A Case Study of the Spanish and Swiss Legations in Wartime Japan. New Glob. Stud. 2017, 11 (2), 85-100, Article. DOI: 10.1515/ngs-2017-0018

(2) Lottaz, P. Neutrality and Wartime Japan. In Notions of Neutralities, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2018; pp 113-133. 978-197875783-7 (ISBN); 978-149858226-1 (ISBN).

(3) Lottaz, P. Neutrality and Wartime Japan. Lexington Books: 2018; pp 113-134.

(4) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Preface. Notions of Neutralities 2018, vii, Editorial.

(5) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. "Private Neutrality": The Bank for International Settlements. In Notions of Neutralities, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2018; pp 137-159. 978-197875783-7 (ISBN); 978-149858226-1 (ISBN).

(6) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Conclusion. In Notions of Neutralities, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2018; pp 289-296. 978-197875783-7 (ISBN); 978-149858226-1 (ISBN).

(7) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Introduction. Notions of Neutralities 2018, ix-xviii, Editorial.

(8) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Notions of Neutralities; Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2018. 978-197875783-7 (ISBN); 978-149858226-1 (ISBN).

(9) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutrality Discourse. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 1-64.

(10) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Conclusion. Lexington Books: 2018; pp 289-296.

(11) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutralities in Use. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 135-212.

(12) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Notions of Neutralities; Lexington Books, 2018. DOI: 10.5771/9781498582278.

(13) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutrality as Foreign Policy. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 213-288.

(14) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Index. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 297-306.

(15) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. "Private Neutrality". Lexington Books: 2018; pp 137-160.

(16) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Introduction. Lexington Books: 2018; pp ix-xviii.

(17) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. About the Contributors. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 307-310.

(18) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutralities as Structural Elements. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 65-134.

(19) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Preface. Lexington Books, 2018; pp i-xviii.

(20) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Conclusion. Lexington Books, 2018; pp 289-296.

(21) Lottaz, P.; Rodao, F. The Vatican, World War II, and Asia: Lessons of Neutral Diplomacy. In Notions of Neutralities, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2018; pp 215-237. 978-197875783-7 (ISBN); 978-149858226-1 (ISBN).

(22) Lottaz, P.; Rodao, F. The Vatican, World War II, and Asia. Lexington Books: 2018; pp 215-238.

(23) Lottaz, P. The Logic Of Neutrality. Lexington Books: 2020; pp 57-86.

(24) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Taiwanese Neutrality. Lexington Books: 2020; pp 191-208.

(25) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Introduction. Lexington Books: 2020; pp 1-12.

(26) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Conclusion. Lexington Books: 2020; pp 221-226.

(27) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Permanent Neutrality; Lexington Books, 2020. DOI: 10.5771/9781793610294.

(28) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Part III: Application. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 165-220.

(29) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Index. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 227-236.

(30) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Part II: Practice. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 87-164.

(31) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. The Nomos Of Neutrality In East Asia. Lexington Books: 2020; pp 167-190.

(32) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Introduction. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 1-12.

(33) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Conclusion. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 221-226.

(34) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Part I: Theory. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 13-86.

(35) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. About the Contributors. Lexington Books, 2020; pp 237-239.

(36) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Preface. Lexington Books, 2020; pp i-x. (37) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I. Sweden, Japan, and the Long Second World War: 1931-1945; Taylor and Francis, 2021. 978-100040227-8 (ISBN); 978-103202142-3 (ISBN). DOI: 10.4324/9781003182061.

(38) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I. Sweden, Japan, and the Long Second World War: 1931-1945; 2021.

(39) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I. Sweden, Japan, and the Long Second World War; Routledge, 2021. DOI: 10.4324/9781003182061.

(40) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Fully engaged. Routledge, 2021; pp 125-158.

(41) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Conclusion. Routledge, 2021; pp 181-186.

(42) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Fading protest. Routledge, 2021; pp 61-91.

(43) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. In the end. Routledge, 2021; pp 159-180.

(44) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Introduction. Routledge, 2021; pp 1-13.

(45) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Staying relevant. Routledge, 2021; pp 92-124.

(46) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. In the beginning. Routledge, 2021; pp 14-28.

(47) Lottaz, P.; Ottosson, I.; Edström, B. Trade under protest. Routledge, 2021; pp 29-60.

(48) Lottaz, P. Introduction. Neutral beyond the Cold: Neutral States and the Post-Cold War International System 2022, ix-xvi, Editorial.

(49) Lottaz, P. Vatican Diplomacy and Church Realities in the Philippines during World War II. In The Vatican and Permanent Neutrality, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2022; pp 83-104. 978-197877489-6 (ISBN); 978-179364218-9 (ISBN).

(50) Lottaz, P. Neutrality Studies. In Oxford University Press, 2022. Updated 2022/03/23. DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.680.

(51) Lottaz, P. Introduction. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group: 2022; pp ix-xvi.

(52) Lottaz, P. Vatican Diplomacy and Church Realities in the Philippines during World War II. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.: 2022; pp 83-104.

(53) Lottaz, P.; Ganbaatar, T. Mongolia: Neutrality, a Nice Horse. In Neutral beyond the Cold: Neutral States and the Post-Cold War International System, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2022; pp 273-292. 978-197879289-0 (ISBN); 978-166690166-5 (ISBN).

(54) Lottaz, P.; Ganbaatar, T. Mongolia. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group: 2022; pp 273-292.

(55) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H. Dual-neutrality for the Koreas: a two-pronged approach toward reunification. Defense Secur. Anal. 2022, 38 (3), 284-295, Article. DOI: 10.1080/14751798.2022.2085109

(56) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutral beyond the Cold: Neutral States and the Post-Cold War International System; Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2022. 978-197879289-0 (ISBN); 978-166690166-5 (ISBN).

(57) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Index. Lexington Books, 2022; pp 293-306.

(58) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Part I: Re-imagining Neutrality in the Post-Cold War. Lexington Books, 2022; pp 1-126.

(59) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Part II: The New Neutrals in the Post-Communist Space. Lexington Books, 2022; pp 127-292.

(60) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Preface. Lexington Books, 2022; pp i-xvi.

(61) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. About the Contributors. Lexington Books, 2022; pp 307-310.

(62) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H.; Reginbogin, H. R. Neutral Beyond the Cold; Lexington Books, 2022. DOI: 10.5771/9781666901672.

(63) Preiherman, Y.; Lottaz, P. Belarus: Between Alliance and Neutralism. In Neutral beyond the Cold: Neutral States and the Post-Cold War International System, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2022; pp 129-150. 978-197879289-0 (ISBN); 978-166690166-5 (ISBN).

(64) Preiherman, Y.; Lottaz, P. Belarus. The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group: 2022; pp 129-150.

(65) Lottaz, P. Neutrality, neutralism, and nonalignment in the early cold war. In Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime: 1958-1968, Taylor and Francis, 2023; pp 13-35. 978-100331056-3 (ISBN); 978-103231609-3 (ISBN).

(66) Lottaz, P. Epilogue. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc: 2023; pp 263-276.

(67) Lottaz, P.; Gärtner, H. Dual-neutrality for the Koreas: a two-pronged approach toward reunification. Routledge, 2023; pp 41-52.

(68) Lottaz, P.; Iwama, Y. Neutral Europe and the creation of the nonproliferation regime: 1958-1968; Taylor and Francis, 2023. 978-100331056-3 (ISBN); 978-103231609-3 (ISBN). DOI: 10.4324/9781003310563.

(69) Lottaz, P.; Iwama, Y. Introduction. Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime: 1958-1968 2023, 1-9, Editorial. DOI: 10.4324/9781003310563-1

(70) Lottaz, P.; Iwama, Y. Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime; Routledge, 2023. DOI: 10.4324/9781003310563.

(71) Lottaz, P. The Logic of Neutrality. In Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2024; pp 57-86. 978-197877716-3 (ISBN); 978-179361030-0 (ISBN).

(72) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Conclusion. In Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2024; pp 221-225. 978-197877716-3 (ISBN); 978-179361030-0 (ISBN).

(73) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Taiwanese Neutrality: Solving the Conundrum. In Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2024; pp 191-207. 978-197877716-3 (ISBN); 978-179361030-0 (ISBN).

(74) Lottaz, P.; Reginbogin, H. R. Introduction. Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice 2024, 1-11, Editorial.

(75) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. The Nomos of Neutrality in East Asia. In Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2024; pp 167-189. 978-197877716-3 (ISBN); 978-179361030-0 (ISBN).

(76) Reginbogin, H. R.; Lottaz, P. Permanent Neutrality: A Model for Peace, Security, and Justice; Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., 2024. 978-197877716-3 (ISBN); 978-179361030-0 (ISBN). DOI: 10.5040/9781978722507.

(77) Lottaz, P. Taiwan and the Necessity of Imagining Peace. F1000 Res. 2025, 14, 246-246. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.161050.1

(78) Nishikawa-Pacher, A.; Lottaz, P. Permanent neutrality: A systems-theoretical interpretation. Coop. Confl. 2025, Article. DOI: 10.1177/00108367251382785


Notes

  1. ^ "Pascal LOTTAZ – The Hakubi Project". Kyoto University. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Neutrality Studies Institute". Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Meet the SCCIJ Members #3 – Pascal Lottaz". Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Surviving & Thriving in Japan: Pascal Lottaz" (Document). Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |access-date= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Lottaz Pascal – Researcher Information". J-GLOBAL, Japan Science and Technology Agency. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Dr. Pascal Lottaz – Assistant Professor (CV)" (Document). National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. May 2019. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |access-date= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lottaz, Pascal – Activity Database on Education and Research". Kyoto University. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  8. ^ a b "Neutrality Studies – Hakubi Seminar". Kyoto University. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Pascal LOTTAZ – Research Profile". Kyoto University Hakubi Project. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  10. ^ Lottaz, Pascal; Heinz Gärtner (6 June 2023). "In Defense of Neutrals: Why They're More Than Just Fence Sitters". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  11. ^ "Neutrality Studies". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  12. ^ a b "Pascal Lottaz – Profile". Academia.edu (Waseda University). Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  13. ^ a b c d "Dr Pascal Lottaz". European Leadership Network. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  14. ^ "Neutral Europe and the Creation of the Nonproliferation Regime 1958–1968". Routledge. Retrieved 2026. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ^ "In Defense of Neutrals". Foreign Policy. 6 June 2023.


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