Lecture

Modern Switzerland: Political Institutions and Cultural Diversity

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Description

This lecture series delves into modern Switzerland, exploring topics such as the Swiss political system, cultural diversity, and the country's major political institutions. The course covers Swiss-EU relations, the political economy of immigration, and the image of Switzerland. Students will analyze the rise of Switzerland as a small economic power, the Swiss business elite, and the historical context of the country. Evaluation includes reports on conferences, a multiple-choice questionnaire, and a final exam. Additionally, students will work in groups to write a paper in the Spring semester. The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Switzerland's political landscape and cultural identity.

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Related concepts (24)

Immigration

Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, and other short-term stays in a destination country do not fall under the definition of immigration or migration; seasonal labour immigration is sometimes included, however. As for economic effects, research suggests that migration is beneficial both to the receiving and sending countries.

Opposition to immigration

Opposition to immigration, also known as anti-immigration, has become a significant political ideology in many countries. In the modern sense, immigration refers to the entry of people from one state or territory into another state or territory in which they are not citizens. Illegal immigration occurs when people immigrate to a country without having official permission to do so. Opposition to immigration ranges from calls for various immigration reforms, to proposals to completely restrict immigration, to calls for repatriation of existing immigrants.

Cultural identity

Cultural identity is a part of a person's identity, or their self-conception and self-perception, and is related to nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture. In this way, cultural identity is both characteristic of the individual but also of the culturally identical group of members sharing the same cultural identity or upbringing. Cultural identity is a fluid process that is changed by different social, cultural, and historical experiences.

Immigration to Canada

According to the 2021 Canadian census, immigrants in Canada number 8.3 million persons and make up approximately 23 percent of Canada's total population. This represents the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world, while the proportion represents one of the highest ratios for industrialized Western countries. Following Canada's confederation in 1867, immigration played an integral role in helping develop vast tracts of land.

Political economy

Political economy is a branch of political science and economics studying economic systems (e.g. markets and national economies) and their governance by political systems (e.g. law, institutions, and government). Widely studied phenomena within the discipline are systems such as labour markets and financial markets, as well as phenomena such as growth, distribution, inequality, and trade, and how these are shaped by institutions, laws, and government policy. Originating in the 16th century, it is the precursor to the modern discipline of economics.

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