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The Future of Switzerland Depends on Culture and Innovation

Bled, March 7, 2009. The Future of Switzerland Depends on Culture and Innovation. Dr. Barbara Haering, ERAB, Board of the ETH Domain. Switzerland at first site!. Switzerland and it’s diverse cultural identities. Switzerland speaks several languages, but few are multilingual.

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The Future of Switzerland Depends on Culture and Innovation

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  1. Bled, March 7, 2009 The Future of Switzerland Depends on Culture and Innovation Dr. Barbara Haering, ERAB, Board of the ETH Domain

  2. Switzerland at first site!

  3. Switzerland and it’s diverse cultural identities • Switzerland speaks several languages, but few are multilingual. • German 64 % French 20 % • Italian 6.5 % Raetoromansch 0.5 % • Other languages 9 % • Switzerland’s last war was an internal conflict between roman-catholics and protestants in November 1847. • Roman-Catholics 41 % Protestants 40 % • Muslim 4 % Jews 0.2 % • Switzerland looks back on a relatively short common history: The Swiss Confederation was founded only in 1848.

  4. Identity through cultural achievements • Switzerland’s identity is strongly based on cultural achievements: • Cultural diversity • Federalism • Direct democracy • Tradition of political consensus and all-party coalitions • Militia systems – not only for the army but for politics as well • Neutrality as a political concept • Switzerland’s identity is supported by major public infrastructures and by it’s most important universities: • SBB/CFF/FFS • Post • ETH Zürich, EPF Lausanne

  5. Promoting culture and art in Switzerland • 1848 National Archives • 1886/89 Protection of national heritage • 1890 National Museum • 1894 National Library • 1939 Pro Helvetia Culture Foundation • 1975 Federal Department on Culture • 1980 Initiative: 1% for culture fails in referendum • 1991 Constitutional amendment on culture fails • 1999 Constitutional amendment passes • 2009 Federal law on promoting culture

  6. Political debate of today • In Switzerland the main responsibility for supporting art and cultural activities has always been with the cantons and on the local level. • Only since the year 2000 the Swiss Constitution includes a paragraph on cultural. The corresponding law is now being debated in Parliament: • Only subsidiary responsibilities and competences for the Confederation • Support of the Confederation only for national priorities • Diversity of cultures and languages have to be respected • On the national level most support activities will remain delegated to the independent foundation Pro Helvetia.

  7. Lessons learnt: Culture and Politics • The culture of politics is more important for Switzerland’s identity and future than specific policies promoting culture. • It’s not the quantity of cultural offers that counts but a specific quality: Art should guide us in developing new approaches to reality. • If “anything goes” art looses it’s driving societal power. • In a globalizing world public money should explicitly be invested in regional traditions and in cultural diversity – and not only for promoting global excellence.

  8. Lesson learnt: Science and Innovation • Switzerland’s future depends on science and innovation. Bridging the gap from research to market is a cultural issue.

  9. This is no future for Switzerland!

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