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Deliberative inclusion of minorities: patterns of reciprocity among linguistic groups in Switzerland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2012

Seraina Pedrini ,
André Bächtiger  and
Marco R. Steenbergen
Seraina Pedrini*
Affiliation:
PhD Student, Institute of Political Science, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Research Assistant, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
André Bächtiger
Affiliation:
Swiss National Science Foundation Research Professor, Institute for Political Science, University of Lucerne, Switzerland
Marco R. Steenbergen
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
*
*E-mail: pedrini@ipz.uzh.ch
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Abstract

We present a model of deliberative inclusion, focusing on reciprocity in the interaction between structural minorities/disadvantaged groups and majorities/privileged groups. Our model, however, comes with a ‘friendly amendment’: we have put the ‘burden of reciprocity’ mainly on majorities and privileged groups. It is mainly their obligation to seriously listen and respond to the demands and arguments of minorities and disadvantaged groups and show a willingness to respect and accommodate these interests. Empirically, we apply our model to the interaction of linguistic groups in the Swiss parliament. We find a highly egalitarian, sometimes even minority-favoring mode of interaction between the German-speaking majority and linguistic minorities. The German-speaking majority seems to be willing to take the ‘burden of reciprocity’ when linguistic minorities’ vital interests are concerned. Conversely, linguistic minorities are slightly more self-referential and adversarial under such conditions.

Keywords

deliberationminoritiesinclusion
Type
Research Article
Information
European Political Science Review , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , November 2013 , pp. 483 - 512
Copyright
Copyright © European Consortium for Political Research 2012 

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