Maximilian Carlo Spitz

DPhil Research Topic

Alpine Commonwealth and Transatlantic Republics: Perception of the Swiss in Anglo-American Republican Thought.

During the revolutionary periods in England (mid. 17th c.) and America (late 18th c.), republican thinkers sought to replace the monarchical order with a new republican system, ideally modelled after another republican example. Among others, the Eidgenossenschaft – i.e. historical Switzerland – featured as one such paragon in the republican discourse. In their search for a viable model, anglophone thinkers turned towards the Swiss for a variety of reasons: For their military virtue, attributed to the victorious “wars of liberation” against the Habsburgs; and also for their intricate political organisation, which somehow held together a dozen independent Cantons. Furthermore, the Protestant Cantons were regarded as confessional allies by the Puritan republicans of England, whereas the later republican movement in America primarily turned towards the Swiss for their economic thought. Although relatively overlooked in contemporary scholarship, this nexus between the Anglo-American world and Switzerland reveals much about the traits and adaptability of republican thought, as well as the early modern perceptions of Switzerland.

Supervisor: Brian Young

Other Interests

Beside my DPhil research, I hold a variety of other interests, which include

• History of Architecture, especially in conjunction with political thought and the movement of New Traditional Architecture.
• Christian as well as Jewish theology, religion, and faith.
• Classical languages, especially Latin and Greek.

I am happy to discuss my research and interests with anyone sharing similar passions.

Education and Awards

I have completed my undergraduate studies in History, Archaeology, as well as Law and Theory of the State at the University of Bern (2021-2024). Thereafter, I have studied for the MLitt in Intellectual History at the University of St Andrews (2024/25), where I received the Global Merit Award and which I completed with Distinction. Since autumn 2025, I am studying for my DPhil at the University of Oxford with the generous financial support of the Berrow Foundation.