Dare We Hope?—Building Lasting Peace: A Swiss Ambassador’s Insight

In a time of war, mistrust, and global uncertainty, where do we turn for hope? Can we still cooperate in a divided world? Walter B. Gyger has spent a lifetime at the fault lines—between power and principle, failure and breakthrough. This book is not a memoir. It is a field guide to international governance, grounded in lived experience. It shows what is possible when we move beyond slogans and engage with the real world. For diplomats, students, and citizens alike, this book offers a path through complexity—clear, honest, and rooted in practice.

"Hope must not be confused with illusion. It begins with a clear and realistic understanding of today's world. Yes, peace remains possible—but it demands something deeper: respect. Respect for the rules, for partners, and above all, for human beings and their rights."

Joseph Deiss (Former President of Switzerland President of the 65th UN General Assembly)

"When we truly listen across divides, something shifts. We create new reference points. We begin to see with new eyes, to feel with deeper empathy. Transformation starts within us, then flows outward—taking root in communities and echoing across generations. This book offers not just insight into diplomacy and cooperation, where it works and where it breaks. It also provides concrete tools. Tools to turn hope into action."

Sanela Music Lee (Founder of SANCHILD International, Rotary International Champion of Peace Honoree 2025, Rotary International Representative to the UN in Geneva)

Walter B. Gyger served for nearly four decades in the Swiss diplomatic service, with ambassadorial postings in West Africa, International Geneva, India, Türkiye, and Russia. He later represented Rotary International at the United Nations in Geneva. A graduate of the University of St. Gallen, he now writes from experience to share insights into diplomacy, governance, and the search for peace.