Projects / Programmes
Historical and legal aspects of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Slovenian territory in the 20th century till the passing of the constitution in 1990
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2021
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| 5.05.00 |
Social sciences |
Law |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H250 |
Humanities |
Contemporary history (since 1914) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
| 5.05 |
Social Sciences |
Law |
Communism, Nazism, Fascism, characteristics of totalitarian systems, violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, freedom of expression, international law, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Hague Conventions, Martens Clause, crime against humanity, Jews, Roma
Researchers (14)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research team has carried out the program The Tyranny of Communist Totalitarianism in Slovenia 1941-1990 from 2009 till 2016. It became increasingly evident that for the understanding of the Communist system it is necessary to examine the characteristics of all totalitarian systems and phenomena on the territory inhabited by Slovenians in the 20th century, even across the border. The global goal of expanding the contents of the research program is to establish whether the nature and range of the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all three totalitarian systems are similar and comparable. It is necessary to research how they came to power, what were the reasons for that and what kind of links were among them. The tool of historiography and law is comparison. This does not mean that they are equal. All authoritarian and totalitarian systems and phenomena should be treated according to the same criteria.
Important historical and legal issue is if Slovenia at the time when the criminal offences were committed was bound in contractual or customary rules of international law on the prohibition of crimes against humanity. A legal basis must therefore be chronologically subdivided into valid legal basis at the time of the crime and the legal basis for the service, which was adopted later and usual international law. Crimes that were committed on Slovenian territory after the end of the WW II, even from the view of standard norms, cannot be separated from the pre-war and wartime normative framework.
Slovenia experienced Fascism, Nazism and Communism. But systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms had already begun at the time of the Habsburg monarchy in the Slovenian Carinthia and Styria and continued there during the WWI. and between the two world wars. The western part of the current Slovenia was the first to face Fascism, as it fell within the domain of the Kingdom of Italy with the Treaty of Rapallo (1920). In 1941, the Drava banovina was occupied by Germans, Hungarians and Italians, who all shared the same goal: to ethnically destroy the Slovenian nation. They acted in different ways, so there is a need to define the various forms of violence. The war also affected the Jews and the Roma, in particular violence against the latter has not been researched yet. During the World War II, simultaneously with the fight against the occupying forces, the revolution led by the Communist Party took place. The revolutionary side implemented various types of violence against civilians.
After WW II, there was no real liberation, because with the Communist Party the third totalitarian regime came into power. The worst forms of violations of human rights occurred in the first decade after the end of the war. The party sought to remove all actual or alleged opponents. In the second period the repression changed. Violations of human rights were less visible, more subtle and less noticeable in foreign countries.
Significance for science
With research and analysis of a less known background, the reasons for and consequences of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Slovenian territory from World War I to the adoption of the constitution in December 1990, the team will contribute to the discovery of new historical and legal facts and realisations in the research field. They will be important for historical and legal experts, as well as members of other scientific disciplines. This will enable a deeper and wider knowledge of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the 20th century. It is important to encourage the awareness that human rights and fundamental freedoms should not be taken for granted or given once and for all. Efforts should be made to prevent repetition of such violations.
Significance for the country
The results of the program will contribute to the development of the historical profession and other fields that study the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The program will close the gap in knowing and understanding of the types of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the period considered, will explain why they were implemented, which population groups were liable to these measures and why, what the consequences of violations were and how they reflect on the level of personal, social and political life today.
The research results will be used by the members of the program team in the pedagogical process. It is important that younger generations find out and become aware of the fact that human rights and fundamental freedoms are not a given or guaranteed and that we constantly need to make an effort to maintain them.
Knowledge of our own history and informing the general public of new conclusions will influence the development of national identity and national cultural heritage.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
