Language and federalism: the multi-ethnic challenge

In: International social science journal: ISSJ, Heft 167

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)