Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Education Policy

How Switzerland's School Religion Reform Reveals a Hidden Battle for Public Space

La religion à l'école : Négociations autour de la présence publique des communautés religieuses

Andrea Rota

Andrea Rota's book, 'La religion à l'école : Négociations autour de la présence publique des communautés religieuses', explores how recent religious education reforms in Swiss cantons like Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Ticino, and Vaud are reshaping the public presence of religious communities. Based on FNS research, Rota introduces the concept of a 'religious education economy' to analyze how groups coordinate their activities. The study reveals a 'gray zone' where traditional churches, mobile minorities (like Muslims), and established minorities (like Jews) negotiate their roles in schools. Key findings show a convergence in reforms toward state-led, non-confessional teaching, with each group adopting distinct strategies: traditional churches seek 'distinction without separation', mobile minorities use schools as tools for recognition, and established minorities demand autonomy. This video breaks down Rota's micro-sociological approach, challenging macro theories of public religion, and offers a clear typology of how these groups navigate state power, identity, and education. Watch to understand the hidden dynamics behind school religion and what they reveal about modern society's struggle with diversity.