Dr. Daniel Möckli

Dr. Daniel Möckli is heading the Think Tank at the Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich. From 2021 to 2024, he was Head of Policy Planning at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), overseeing strategy development and geopolitical analyses. Previously, had had worked as an advisor on security and peace policy at the Secretariat-General of the FDFA (2018-21). He was penholder and secretary of the high-level working group "Aussenpolitische Vision Schweiz 2028 (AVIS28)", which was mandated by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis to draft a report on the future of Swiss foreign policy. Between 2013 and 2017, he was diplomatic advisor to foreign minister Didier Burkhalter, with a particular focus on Switzerland’s OSCE presidency 2014 and its response to the unfolding crisis in and around Ukraine. Prior to his employment at the FDFA, he had been Deputy Head of Think Tank at the CSS and Head of its Strategic Trends Analysis team, covering Swiss foreign and security policy, European security, the Middle East, and geopolitical trends.

Daniel Möckli studied History, International Relations, and English Literature. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Kent at Canterbury and his Master's degree (Lizentiat) and Doctorate from the University of Zurich. His PhD dissertation covered the beginnings of European foreign policy cooperation 1969-74. He is member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and a Young Leader alumni of the American Swiss Foundation. He is teaching the course "Schweizerische Aussenpolitik" at ETH Zurich each autumn semester.