Switzerland, languages ​​and 10 years of Babylonia

Abstract

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Overview:
This issue of Babylonia celebrates the journal's 10th anniversary and is dedicated to the theme “Switzerland, languages, and 10 years of Babylonia.” It reflects on the journal’s origins, values, and evolution, and engages with the major political and educational developments in Swiss language policy—particularly the draft federal law on languages.

Key Contributions:
The editorial revisits Babylonia’s founding ideals: promoting linguistic and cultural diversity, fostering mutual understanding, and supporting pluralism in Swiss and European societies. It highlights the persistent tension between these ideals and socio-political realities, especially the growing dominance of English.

Several articles focus on the draft federal law on languages, presented five years after a constitutional revision. Luzius Mader outlines its legal foundations, François Grin offers a critical analysis, and the Conference of Cantonal Education Directors (EDK) provides institutional responses. These contributions assess the law’s capacity to preserve multilingualism and national cohesion.