Conflict and Consensus in Switzerland

Switzerland has long been an enigma in this age of cultural nationalism: Its people speak four different languages and practice two major religions yet have managed to live in relative harmony. At a time when the internal solidity of many countries is being shattered by discordant ethnic groups, the situation in Switzerland lends credibility to the refreshing perspective that peaceful co-existence of heterogeneous people is indeed possible. Schmid analyzes the development of Switzerland's harmonious ethnic diversity, arguing that this country has been able to establish a common "civic culture" that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries and provides the foundation for the toleration among the various linguistic and religions groups that is generally evident today. Regional autonomy, linguistic equality, a coalition of the political leaders of all the major communities, and proportionality for parliamentary election and allocation of civil service appointment has helped the diverse groups achieve a stable an relatively amicable confederation of cantons. Though surrounded by countries that define nationalism linguistically, Switzerland defies this norm and is instead united by a self-conscious politcal definition of nationhood. Schmid also examines the delicate problems this vital country now faces: How will it deal with the political status of the Jura--a region repeatedly threatened by intense linguistic and religious conflict, and what will be the fate of that voiceless, non-national, political minority--the foreign workers who threaten to disrupt Switzerland's complex balance of ethnic forces? This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1981.

Auteur

Carol L. Schmid is Professor of Sociology at Guilford Technical Community College.