Die Forschungsstelle der Diplomatischen Dokumente der Schweiz hat im Rahmen ihrer wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchsförderung zum Learn Dodis Day 2016 eingeladen.Die Veranstaltung richtete sich in erster Linie an Studierende der Geschichte an Schweizer Universitäten, war aber auch der interessierten Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Die Teilnahme an diesem Event befähigt, selbständige Recherchen in der Datenbank Dodis durchzuführen und den reichhaltigen digitalen Quellenfundus zur Geschichte der Schweizer Aussenpolitik für die wissenschaftliche Auswertung, beispielsweise zum Verfassen von Qualifikationsarbeiten, gezielt nutzen zu können.Die Veranstaltung fand am 9. März 2016 um 10:15 Uhr im Schweizerischen Bundesarchiv, Archivstrasse 24 in Bern statt.

Die Diplomatischen Dokumente der Schweiz, das Schweizerische Bundesarchiv, das Europainstitut der Universität Basel und die Universität Zürich laden ein zur feierlichen Übergabe des Nachlasses des schweizerischen Generalkonsuls in Yokohama (Japan), Arnold Dumelin (1844–1905), an das Schweizerische Bundesarchiv und zur Aufschaltung einer Auswahl an Dokumenten des Nachlasses auf der Datenbank Dodis.Die Übergabe mit anschliessendem Apéro findet am 30. Juli 2015 um 17:00 Uhr im Schweizerischen Bundesarchiv, Archivstrasse 24 in Bern statt.Wir bitten um eine Anmeldung bis zum 24.7.2015 an dds@dodis.ch.Programm

On June 19, the official kickoff event of the Metagrid.ch project took place at the Swiss National Library. At the event, almost fifty participants from areas like edition and database projects, libraries, archives and long-term projects of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHAS) were able to gather information on developments and functionalities of the web service.After the introduction by the director of the Swiss National Library, Marie-Christine Doffey, who highlighted the high practical gain of the project and the National Library’s plans for a close cooperation with Metagrid, Sacha Zala, Maurizio Rossi, Tobias Steiner and Christiane Sibille commented on conceptual conventions, technical realization and practical applications of the web service. In two ensuing workshops, the participants had the chance to discuss concrete questions concerning technical requirements and potential uses as well as to test the content management system themselves. Metagrid.ch is a project by the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHAS) for an online network of resources of the humanities, executed by the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis) with support by the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. For more information, interested organizations should please refer to www.metagrid.ch where they can also register as a project partner.

On October 30, 2014 the launch of the latest volume of the Quaderni di Dodis, the academic journal of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, will take place at the Federal Archives in Bern. The Historian Bernd Haunfelder publishes in volume 4 of the Quaderni di Dodis the political reporting of the Swiss representation in Vienna from 1938 to 1955.

The Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland cordially invite you to the vernissage of volume 25 (1970-1972). The event will take place on Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at the Federal Archives in Berne.Thank you for your registration until May 27.

From 1st to 5th October 2013, delegations from 5 continents came together for the 12th International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents, which took place at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva. The research group of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (DDS) was responsible for organising the event with the collaboration of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and the support of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) as well as the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Top-flight talksThe Conference opened with an inaugural speech by the Director-General of the UNOG, Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (left in the photo with Sacha Zala, DDS (middle) and Blandine Blukacz-Louisfert (right)). Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), then spoke on the role of global governance. Other important items on the agenda were the reports given by delegates on their projects’ newest developments, as well as the workshops in which current questions relating to editing – such as the issue of the many languages of diplomatic documents or the role of social media – were discussed. Digital collaboration DDS-FRUSThe workshop entitled «Going Online and Connecting Diplomatic Documents – Possibilities of Digital Collaborations» gave the opportunity to present the new collaborative project between the DDS and the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS). Within the context of this collaboration, the FRUS are making use of a web service developed by the DDS, Metagrid (cf. http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/root-elihu). The birth of an international organisationThe high point of the Conference of Editors was the founding of the «International Committee of Editors of Diplomatic Documents». The Dutch delegate Marc Dierikx was elected founding President of this new organisation, and Sacha Zala, the Director of the DDS, was named Secretary General. Other Board Members come from Belgium, Germany, Ireland and the USA. Public SymposiumThe Conference ended with a public symposium on «Diplomacy and Global Governance». Over 150 participants were present at both panels, in which representatives from publishing projects as well as academics presented papers on diplomacy and global governance in relation to international organisations. The next conference, which will take place in 2015, will be organised by the Office of the Historian of the State Department and will take place in the USA.Conference Proceedings

Preparations are running at full speed: The research group of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland is in the midst of organising the 12th International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents and the International Symposium «Diplomacy and Global Governance».Global changes in the edition of diplomatic documentsAt the beginning of October, representatives from 29 countries will convene in Geneva: a definite record-number of participants for the 25 years since the network was created. The conference will take place at the United Nations Office at Geneva, namely the Palais des Nations, a particularly meaningful location for history of the 20th century. On the agenda: the newest developments in the field of editing of diplomatic documents. A particular focus this year will be on new technologies.Editing projects in light of the Digital turnFifteen years ago already, the DDS launched the innovative project of their online database Dodis (dodis.ch). In the last months, the DDS have started a step-by-step updating of Dodis, launched the new e-book series «Quaderni di Dodis», as well as developing a Dodis iPhone app. Numerous other projects enabled by the digital turn have been developed and focus on the areas of digital publishing and social media.Cooperation with the FRUSParticularly important for the DDS is the presentation of a newly-launched collaborative project with the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS).High-level representatives of the International GenevaSupported by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Conference will also welcome representatives of the «International Geneva». The Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as the Ambassador Alexandre Fasel, Permanent Representative of Switzerland at the United Nations Office and other international organisations at Geneva, will address the participants. Peter Maurer, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross will give a talk on the experience of the ICRC in light of the shape of global governance.International Symposium «Diplomacy and Global Governance»«Diplomacy and Global Governance» will also be the focus of the International Symposium, which will end the public part of the Conference of Editors, on October 4. In an innovative setting, internationally recognized experts in the history of international organisations together with the editors will discuss the interaction between the diplomacy and shape of global governance. The chosen timeframe will run from the second half of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century, and the main focuses will range from Switzerland to the politics of the United States with regards to the Arab-Israeli Conflict.The symposium is open to all. Registration is however mandatory by September 24 at geneva2013@dodis.ch.The program can be downloaded here : Flyer-Symposium.pdf

The President of the Comittee overseeing the publication of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (DDS), Prof. PhD Hans Ulrich Jost, will be giving a talk on 29 May 2013, on the subject «Neutrality – What else? From Brother Klaus to ‹fiscal neutrality›». This public lecture is organised by the Institute of History of the University of Bern, as part of its course entitled «Crisis, Confrontation, Consensus. Switzerland from 1914 to 1949». The DDS research group would like to invite all interested individuals to join the event.

On October 1st, 2012 the launch of the latest volume of the Quaderni di Dodis, the academic journal of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, will take place at the Federal Archives in Bern. The Historian Bernd Haunfelder publishes in volume 2 of the Quaderni di Dodis the political correspondence of the Swiss embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany during the Adenauer era.

The Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland cordially invite you to the vernissage of Volume 24 (1967-1969). The event will take place on Monday, August 27 at the Federal Archives in Berne. Please refer to the flyer for more information.Pictures of the vernissage on Flickr.

Die Diplomatischen Dokumente der Schweiz haben zusammen mit der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts und Sozialgeschichte sowie der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Volkskunde eine Veranstaltung zur Geschichte der Auslandschweizerinnen und -schweizer organisiert. Die Tagung fand am 8. Juni 2012 im Hauptgebäude der Universität Bern statt.Ein Tagungsbericht wurde auf H-Soz-u-Kult veröffentlicht.

On 17 January 2012, the DDS - in collaboration with the Swiss Helsinki Committee for Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights and foraus Forum de politique étrangère - organised a thematic evening event on the role the Swiss diplomacy played during the Conference and in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE/OSCE). The aim of the well attended event at the Käfigturm in Berne was to bring together researchers, contemporary witnesses and interested public. Programm Begrüssung durch Nicola Forster, Präsident foraus   Präsentation von Dokumenten in der Online-Datenbank Dodis durch Dr. Sacha Zala, Direktor der Diplomatischen Dokumente der Schweiz  Impulsreferat durch Dr. Thomas Fischer  Podiumsgespräch mit a. Botschafterin Dr. Marianne von Grünigen (Leiterin der schweizerischen Delegation bei der KSZE 1989-1993 und bei der OSZE in Wien 1997-2001) und Dr. Hans-Jörg Renk (Mitglied der schweizerischen KSZE-Delegaion von Helsinki 1972 bis Madrid 1981). Moderation: Dr. Thomas Fischer   Impressionen der Veranstaltung auf Flickr.

Die Diplomatischen Dokumente der Schweiz freuen sich, alle Interessierten zur Vernissage von Band 23 (1964-1966) einladen zu dürfen. Die Veranstaltung findet am Dienstag dem 29. November in den Räumlichkeiten des Bundesarchivs in Bern statt. Genauere Informationen entnehmen Sie bitte dem Flyer.

On november 11th and 12th, the DDS were invited at the THATCamp in Lausanne. «The Humanities and Technology Camp» was organised by infoclio.ch, hist.net and Histoire et informatique. Its purpose was to facilitate a free and informal exchange between different actors on how to use and deal with electronic resources in the field of history.Dodis was presented to the expert public as an important part of the Swiss Digital Historical Landscape and could contribute substantially to the discussion on metadata. The Director of the DDS, Sacha Zala explained in an interview what he understood as digital history. The THATCamp as a platform for discussions and the exchange of ideas on digital historical science was a creative, succesfull and stimulating event, which will hopefully be soon repeated.

The international conference is an initiative of the research group of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (DDS) and of the Diplomatic Documents of Italy (DDI). This conference is part of the activities of the DDS 2010-2011 on the occasion of the 150 years' anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Italy. Programma   Giovedì 3 novembre 2011 ore 9–17 Biblioteca della Camera dei Deputati, Roma Apertura del convegno da parte della Sen. Emma Bonino, Vice Presidente del Senato, dell’Amb. Mario Bova, Direttore Generale per l’Unione Europea del Ministero degli Affari Esteri e di Bernardino Regazzoni, Ambasciatore di Svizzera in Italia   I. Il Risorgimento.  Presidenza: Francesco Lefebvre D’Ovidio La Svizzera e il riconoscimento del Regno d’Italia Pietro Pastorelli Gli inizi delle relazioni diplomatiche Ralf Heckner Regno di Sardegna e Svizzera 1848–1861 Luigi Lotti Carlo Cattaneo nel Risorgimento tra Italia e Svizzera Carlo Moos   II. Dalla Prima alla Seconda guerra mondiale Presidenza: Carlo Moos Tra neutralità e sicurezza collettiva – la Svizzera di fronte alla nascita della Società delle Nazioni Italo Garzia La Svizzera di fronte al fascismo Mauro Cerutti Difesa spirituale, neutralità e cultura italiana – la Radio svizzera durante il fascismo Nelly Valsangiacomo Discussione finale   Venerdì 4 novembre 2011 ore 9–18 Istituto Svizzero di Roma Saluto di Henri de Riedmatten, Responsabile scientifico, Istituto Svizzero di Roma.   III. La Seconda guerra mondiale Presidenza: Paola Olla L’Italia – un buon debitore. Ciò che per la Svizzera era rilevante, meno rilevante e abbastanza irrilevante, 1936–1943 Georg Kreis La Svizzera neutrale, vista dall‘Italia del Nord – rifugio, asilo, retrovia, 1943–1946 Gianni Perona L’ère de la «combinazione», de l’amitié et de la méfiance Hans Ulrich Jost Presentazione dei Documenti Diplomatici Italiani Presentazione dei Documenti Diplomatici Svizzeri   IV. Il Dopoguerra Presidenza: Stéfanie Prezioso Due scelte a confronto – Italia e Svizzera di fronte alla nascita dell’Onu Luciano Tosi I rapporti economici fino al 1970 – uno sguardo d’insieme Martin Kuder L’emigrazione italiana in Svizzera – lavoro, politica, diplomazia Michele Colucci Le relazioni tra la Svizzera e l’Italia 1945–1969 allo specchio dei DDS Sacha Zala Discussione finale

Im Rahmen eines Methodenseminars sind Doktorandinnen und Doktoranden der Conférence universitire de Suisse occidentale bei den DDS zu Besuch. Die Tagung mit dem Titel «Relations internationales de la Suisse au XXe siècle» findet am Donnerstag, 13. Oktober in den Räumlichkeiten des Bundesarchivs in Bern, am Freitag, 14. Oktober im Institut de hautes études internationales in Genf statt. In Bern werden DDS-Kommissionspräsident Hans-Ulrich Jost, DDS-Direktor Sacha Zala und Marc Perrenoud referieren.

Depuis sa mise sur pied en 1988, la Conférence des éditeurs de documents diplomatiques a lieu tous les deux ans. Ces conférences sont pour les éditeurs en provenance d’environ 30 Etats une occasion précieuse d’échanger des expériences et de se tenir informés des nouveautés techniques et des dernières connaissances historiographiques.En 2011 à Jérusalem…La conférence mondiale 2011 a lieu les 20 et 21 septembre 2011 à Jérusalem. Les conférences précédentes se sont tenues à Londres (1989), La Haye (1992), Ottawa (1994), Rome (1996), Bonn (1998), Washington (2001), Canberra (2003), Paris (2005), Dublin (2007) et La Haye (2009). La délégation des DDS présentera à Jérusalem l’avancement de la publication de ses documents et les adaptations apportées à la base de données Dodis.… et en 2013 à GenèveLes DDS ont l’honneur d’accueillir en 2013 la 12ème Conférence internationale des éditeurs de documents diplomatiques. La Conférence se réunira à Genève et est organisée par les DDS avec la collaboration de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève (ONUG) et avec le soutien du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères.

In 2011, the American equivalent to the DDS, the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions, called «Foreign Relations of the United States» (FRUS), celebrates its 150th anniversary. The series of the FRUS is produced by the State Department's Office of the Historian and is thus a governmental research institute. The project is based on a law that calls for a «thorough, accurate, and reliable» documentary record of United States foreign policy. From Lincoln to NixonThe project was initiated in 1861 under the Abraham Lincoln administration, at the beginning of the Civil War. Currently, the FRUS are working on the research and publication of the volumes related to the administration of Richard Nixon (1969-1974). In June 2011, the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SARF) organized a panel on comparative research in international relations in Washington. On this occasion, Sacha Zala, director of the DDS, presented a paper on «The War of Documents and the Professionalization of the Editor’s Work: A Comparative View».