POLITICAL GOVERNANCE OF MULTICULTURALISM IN PAKISTAN; LESSONS FROM SWITZERLAND

Abstract

Multiculturalism is not a new phenomenon. It echoes throughout the history of human civilization for several centuries. Historians, social pundits, political scientists, linguists, and philosophers accentuate it with contrary opinions. Some of them believe multiculturalism to be beauty and strength of a nation, while others deem it as menace to solidarity, peace and social harmony of a state. Hence, cultural diversity has become a political challenge throughout the world. Modern societies have gradually changed from homogeneous societies to multicultural societies. Developments in human history, particularly wars, treaties, invasions and migrations have ensured that most states in today’s world are multicultural or sometimes even multinational in character. Switzerland is home to 8 million unevenly divided souls, languages, minds, backgrounds and idiosyncrasies. Today, it stands as one of the exemplary viable democratic countries whose better political governance and policies have not only effectively coped with recurring issues of multiculturalism but have also bridged differences among French, Italian, German and Roman based linguistic, ethnic and religious groups. Today Switzerland stands as a model state for all those heterogeneous countries that are struggling against multiculturalism. Pakistan is among them. Because of inadequate political governance, multiculturalism has badly hit Pakistan internally and externally. The research has concluded that despite many differences in size of the country, population etc., the Swiss model of political governance of multiculturalism, with innovation and modifications can be applied to Pakistan.