From Multiculturalism to Hybridity: New Approaches to Teaching Modern Switzerland - Hardcover

"From Mulitculturalism to Hybridity: New Approaches to Teaching Switzerland' presents a comprehensive, informed and well-researched overview of evolving developments and trends in life and culture in present-day Switzerland; it offers excellent practical advice and suggestions about constructing approaches for teaching aspects of the complexity of this small country which contains different languages and cultures within one political framework." - Malcolm Pender, Emeritus Professor of German Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow"Like a magnifying glass, this book shows today's new and multiple facets of Swiss plurality to readers willing to learn about this country. In doing so, the chapters in this book turn into a mirror for Switzerland itself, for the country to read its future. It is a perfect teaching tool, useful for both insiders and outsiders." - Rosita Fibi, Senior Lecturer, University of Lausanne and Senior Researcher at the Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland

From Multiculturalism to Hybridity: New Approaches to Teaching Switzerland places Switzerland within the context of transnational labor migration and examines how this German-, French-, Italian-, and Romansh-speaking nation is being transformed by the influx of migrants from all over the world who now constitute a fifth of the population. This dynamic mixture of cultures and races is embodied by a new generation of citizens who call themselves "Secondas and Secondos," the second generation. Today, Switzerland is leading all industrial nations in growth potential and economic benefits from migration (OECD). The articles in this volume analyze the challenges, successes, and ongoing struggles Switzerland experiences with migration, focusing specifically on what it means to shape a nation-state by political will rather than linguistic and cultural unity.From Multiculturalism to Hybridity also offers teaching suggestions for the French, German, and Italian language and literature classroom as well as for courses in Social, Cultural, and Political Studies. Articles address the hybrid literatures and cultures of Switzerland including films, pageants, smellscapes, and women's issues and place Switzerland in the context of a unifying European continent. Readers will find ideas and resources for critically investigating and teaching the concepts of cultural hybridity and transculturalism in the high school and college classroom.