Managing Cultural Diversity in Switzerland

Author(s) : Christa Uehlinger, Stefan Kammhuber,

Source : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69308-3_9

Abstract:

Understanding the cultural diversity of a country requires looking at different contexts, such as the geographic, historical, and political framework. These influences are an expression of the mentality of the people who live in that society. This chapter discusses various aspects of cultural diversity in Switzerland and provides insights into what to consider when interacting with people from Switzerland or immigrating to Switzerland. It focuses on differences in the German-, French-, and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland. To give a comprehensive view of cultural diversity in Switzerland, a holistic, interdisciplinary approach was chosen regarding the literature used. Sources from different disciplines such as intercultural communication, intercultural psychology, Swiss history, and Swiss literature were considered.

Keywords: Cultural diversity, Switzerland, Diversity Competence, Intercultural Learning