1. Professional Training Programme for Officials from Afghanistan
Federalism: Lessons to learn
from Switzerland
Thomas Fleiner
Thursday
November 17th Fribourg
Afternoon Session

2. Swiss Diversity
With regard to
Languages

4. Protestant 40%
Religion
Catholic 46%

5. 2888 Gemeinden Art. 50 CO Communal autonomy is guaranteed
within the limits fixed by cantonal law.

6. The fourteen constitutional principles Which hold the Country together

7. Legitimacy
Rule of Law
Shared
Rule
Self-Rule
Democracy

8. 1. Take cultural diversity seriously
Legitimacy
1. Take cultural diversity seriously
2. Fatherland for minorities
Preamble of the Constitution:
Determined to live together with their diversities
respecting each other and in equity,
3. Composed Nation
Article 37 Nationality and Citizenships
Everyone who holds citizenship of a Commune, and of
the Canton to which it belongs, has Swiss citizenship.
Article 1 The Swiss Confederation
The People and the Cantons of Zurich, Berne, Lucerne,
…. and Jura form the Swiss Confederation.
4. Multiple loyalty

9. 1. Take cultural diversity seriously
Legitimacy
1. Take cultural diversity seriously
2. Fatherland for minorities
3. Composed Nation
4. Multiple loyalty

10. 5. The Right to be unequal, or: equal rights
Rule of Law
Article 18 Freedom of Language
The freedom of language is guaranteed.
Art. 70 Par.2
In order to preserve harmony between linguistic com-
munities, the cantons shall respect the traditional
territorial distribution of languages, and shall take
indigenous linguistic minorities into account.
5. The Right to be unequal, or: equal rights
versus the right to be equal
Article 4 National Languages
The National Languages are German,
French, Italian, and Romansh.
6. Four Dimension of Freedom:
From, By, To, Within, the State
7. Liberty and Peace

11. 5. The Right to be unequal, or: equal rights
Rule of Law
5. The Right to be unequal, or: equal rights
versus the right to be equal
6. Four Dimension of Freedom:
From, By, To, Within, the State
7. Liberty and Peace

12. 8. Participation of ethnic Groups In Constitution making
Article 45 Participation in Federal Decision Making
In the cases specified by the Federal Constitution,
the Cantons shall participate in the decision-making
process at the federal level, in particular in
formulating federal legislation.
(2) The Confederation shall inform the Cantons of its
plans, fully and in good time; it shall consult them if
their interests are likely to be affected.
Shared Rule
8. Participation of ethnic Groups
In Constitution making
Art. 53
(2) All alterations to the number of the Cantons,
or to their status, are subject to the assent of the
relevant electorate and of the Cantons concerned,
and also of a double vote of the People and
the Cantons.
(3) All changes to the territory of a Canton are
subject to the approval of the electorate
of the Cantons concerned, and to the assent of the
Federal Assembly in the form of a federal decree.
9. Power sharing of cultural communities

13. 8. Participation of ethnic Groups In Constitution making
Shared Rule
8. Participation of ethnic Groups
In Constitution making
9. Power sharing of cultural communities

14. 11. Enhancing diversity to overcome ethnification of politics
Self
Rule
10. Autonomy
Article 3 Cantons
The Cantons are sovereign insofar as their sove-
reignty is not limited by the Federal Constitution;
11. Enhancing diversity to overcome ethnification
of politics
Article 2
(2) It (Confederation) shall promote…., the internal
cohesion and the cultural diversity of the country.

15. 11. Enhancing diversity to overcome ethnification
Self
Rule
10. Autonomy
11. Enhancing diversity to overcome ethnification
of politics

16. 12. Self-determination of individuals as aim of democracy
Preamble
Resolved to renew their alliance
so as to strengthen liberty, democracy, independence
and peace in a spirit of solidarity and openness
towards the world
13. Value of compromise as alternative to the
winner takes all democracy
Art. 175
(4) The various regions and language
communities must be equitably represented in the
Federal Council.
14. Conflict management
Article 147 Consultation Procedure
Cantons, political parties and interested circles shall
be invited to comment, during preparatory phases, on
important legislative bills, on other projects with
major implications and also on important
international treaties.

17. 12. Self-determination of individuals as aim of democracy
13. Value of compromise as alternative to the
winner takes all democracy
14. Conflict management

18. Neutrality
Vienna Congress 1815

19. MULTICULTURAL
AND
PEACEFUL
MULTICULTURAL
BUT
PEACEFUL