Le rôle du folklore et de la tradition dans l'identité nationale

Abstract

The paper deals with the use of cultural elements in the construction of national identity In Switzerland, images of mountain landscapes and memories of a heroic past played this role ; folklore was added around World War II. For some decades this formed a patriotic ensemble of remarkable persuasiveness and social integration. Today only its entertaining function seems to have remained, and this was put forward at the national celebrations in 1991. But older meanings may be revoked and put to political use. This has to be watched carefully