Switzerland is a model of a multilingual state
But it is not an easy one to imitate
EUROPE Is the home of the idea that people who see themselves as a nation should have a country. And very often those countries have seen themselves linguistically: France is the home of those who speak French, and so on. This has always been a simplification. But one state, one nation and one language remains a Platonic ideal.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Out of one, many”
Culture October 8th 2022
- Yes, the Russian literary canon is tainted by imperialism
- Thomas and Julian Huxley were champions of Darwinism
- “To Sanctify the World” revisits the Second Vatican Council
- A new book explores the hidden history of the banjo
- William Boyd’s new novel is a rollicking tale of adventure
- Switzerland is a model of a multilingual state
From the October 8th 2022 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Culture
Want to spend time with a different American president?
Five presidential biographies to distract you from the news
Los Angeles has lost some of its trailblazing architecture
How will it rebuild?
What firms are for
The framework for thinking about business and capitalism is hopelessly outdated, argues a new book
Greg Gutfeld, America’s most popular late-night host, rules the airwaves
The left gave him his perch
Astrology is booming, thanks to technology and younger enthusiasts
Gen Z is full of stargazing users
Why matcha, made from green tea, is the drink of the moment
Is it really a healthy alternative to coffee? Not the way Gen Z orders it