Bulletin n. 3/2010
January 2011
CONTENTS
  • Section A) The theory and practise of the federal states and multi-level systems of government
  • Section B) Global governance and international organizations
  • Section C) Regional integration processes
  • Section D) Federalism as a political idea
    • Brändli Sebastian
    Helvetischer Föderalismus, vaterländische Wissenschaft. Die historischen Kantonsvereine im 19. Jahrhundert
    in Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geschichte , Band 60, Heft 3, 2010 ,  2010 ,  302-318
    From 1830 onwards historical societies were created in many Swiss cantons. They were an expression of regional (cantonal) historical consciousness and of political identity and many of them have survived to the present day. Earlier foundations were societies of enlightenment, and their ambivalent character between the goal of Helvetic unification and the mounting interest in history allowed a specific research orientation of history under special conditions only. Initially archaeological societies were created beside the historic societies, but both forms amalgamated in the course of the 19th century. From a political point of view it is highly interesting to note that cantonal historical societies – as well before as after the foundation of the Swiss Confederation in 1848 – contributed to cantonal identity, but were also engaged in the genesis of national historical consciousness as part of a national identity. Beside academic explanation and communicating these societies were also engaged in historical research, in particular in the collecting and cataloguing of traditional cultural objects. After WW II the state took over specific aspects of conservation of material culture by means of creating museums and services for the preservation of historical monuments and by instituting archaeological services. Today, historical societies form part of the minimal standard of culture management of Swiss Cantons and, thus, are pillars of cantonal identity. In view of the current internationalization of historical sciences at university level the question arises whether the historical societies might not – again – have to shoulder the task of regional and local history.
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