Article(print)2001

Language and federalism: the multi-ethnic challenge

In: International social science journal: ISSJ, Issue 167

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Abstract

Ethnic, linguistic, and religious identities have emerged during the past decade as major challenges to the institutional capacity of the modern state to cope with cultural diversity. Language plays a double role: as a thin bond for communication and negotiation between political actors, and a thick system of meanings, carrying the burden of history, religion, culture, ritual, and memory. Studies this ambivalence of language through a comparison of India and Switzerland, and 2 different cases of relatively successful accommodation of linguistic diversity and discusses the constitutional means and policy measures that might enable a modern state to balance regional diversity and national unity in the face of the multi-ethnic challenge. (Original abstract - amended)

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