Between Post‐nationalism and Neo‐institutionalism: The Structuring of Public Debates in Switzerland in the Field of Immigration and Ethnic Relations

Abstract

RésuméThis article attempts to assess the relevance of post‐nationalist and neo‐institutionalist theories to explain the structuring of public debates on immigration and ethnic relations in Switzerland. To escape the contradictory debate existing between proponents of these two theoretical perspectives, but above all to improve our knowledge of processes of globalization and of resistance by nation‐states in the field of migrations, we propose a systematic analysis of public debates in this field during the 1980s. This allows us to assess the impact of external pressures and of national traditions on the treatment of migration issues. Our analysis unveils three changes that may attest to the impact of transnationalization of migration issues on national states. First, an important growth of debates on issues concerning the integration of immigrants took place, especially in the field of the fight against discriminations. Second, there was a more active participation of immigrants in the national public debates. Third, variations in the activity of the extreme right and the Swiss People's Party occurred, and more precisely a growth of the latter. In particular, the introduction of the Law against racism provided a window of opportunities for the Swiss political actors. Thus, within the constraining framework represented by the nation‐state, which yields political resources and a structure of legitimacy for the intervention of political actors in the field of immigration and ethnic relations, transnational forces are a source of variations and changes which should not be overlooked. In particular, the introduction of a transnational anti‐discrimination norm provides other types of political resources and another structure of legitimacy. Finally, our analysis suggests that the development of personhood rights at a supranational level can be a source of change that yields new models and new scripts for the action of national actors.