Projects / Programmes
SLOVENIA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| 6.02.00 |
Humanities |
Archaeology |
|
| 6.10.00 |
Humanities |
Philosophy |
|
| 6.09.00 |
Humanities |
Art history |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H3 |
Humanities |
H3 |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
Mediterranean, Slovenia, Primorska, history, archaeology, philosophy, history of art, anthropology, contact areas, border status, cultural heritage, ideologies, relgions, migrations, population, economy, politics, diplomacy, intelligence services, nation, nationality, interculturality, identities.
Researchers (31)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The western part of Slovenia has been a very lively junction and an important transitional area between the Mediterranean and the central, eastern and western European territories, between the most diverse social, economic, cultural, ideological and political currents and structures from antiquity until this very day. This is why studies covering a wide range of scientific disciplines are being carried out in this area with its historically defined constants, such as boundaries, political and economic typological complexities, multi- and inter-cultural specificities, identity issues, migrations, interaction and co-functioning by multifold socio-economic and wider civilisational patterns, and involvement in international political events.
As far as some earlier periods of history are concerned, we shall archaeologically present, through interpretation of the available sources, the cultural and economic ties of this area with separate Mediterranean production centres. Much attention shall also be dedicated to the study of economic trends and social demographic development from the Middle Ages onwards, since the economic and social aspects of this area have been greatly neglected in comparison with its political aspects.
A special sphere that covers the entire history of the Primorska region chronologically is its population. The assessment and definition of the economic and demographic system will serve as good foundations for the scientific placement of the subject area into the framework of European courses of events up to the present day.
A contribution to this civilisational-cultural profile of western Slovenia will be the planned recording and study of different aspects of the habitation culture and research into the origin and role of the elites in this area between the 16th and 20th centuries. In view of the historically multiform character of the research area, the project will also deal with the history of mentalite in social, ideological, ethnic-national and the widest cultural perspective and influences, which in the course of time co-shaped the mentalite of this society or its component parts. In the foreground of anthropological-philosophical research will be the history of mentalite, the way of life and perception of the world, the questions of cultural identity and its historical forms of expression, which no doubt went through their fundamental changes during the Age of Enlightenment.
The language of philosophy is a treasury of the most basic layers and logical frameworks created by every culture in its interior and in contact with its neighbouring regions. The scientific background will be a philosophical analysis of some essential intellectual-historical aspects of the development of European humanity and their impact on the present state of affairs.
The picture of the interdisciplinary scientific research into the Primorska coastland will be completed by the research into its history of art, closely associated with the mentalite and material expression of ideas and outlooks on life.
The basic objective of the research into the political history of this region will be to evaluate the historical background of Slovene foreign policy in central Europe and the Mediterranean. Most characteristic of the Primorska Coastland in modern history is its confrontation with all major European ideologies. Here we shall deal with Italian fascism, political Catholicism and liberalism at the time between the two World Wars, German Nazism during World War II, and the political application of Marxism in the ensuing period. After the annexation of Trieste by Italy, some special transformations took place. This is why the research will be focused on the attitudes of the new authorities towards the Istrian population, on relations between the "old-stock" and the newcomers from Slovenia and other Yugoslav republics, on the impact of the new political and demographic constellations on mutual relations, on the people's experie...
Significance for science
The analysis of historiographical texts that exert a crucial impact on the formation of collective memory reveals that Slovene historiography pays insufficient attention to the fact that for centuries the Slovene territory has been a pronouncedly border area, with liminality and the border manifesting themselves as its constant historical features at several levels. Situated at the meeting point of the Mediterranean, central Europe and the Balkans, the area is characterized by the contact between the Slavic, Germanic, Romance and Finno-Ugric worlds, as well as by the vicinity of the former Ottoman Empire. Not surprisingly, the demarcation lines and, consequently, the authorities have been changing continually. Today, the border and liminality are still important factors not only in the fields of politics and administration (e.g. different nationality and administrative division) but also in the broadest institutional, economic, social, ethnic, cultural and civilizational sense. Just like other peripheral areas, the area of Western Slovenia has always been characterized by multiethnicity and multiculturalism. The programme group considers these two characteristics as very important factors in the formation and preservation of Slovene ethnic and cultural identity. By analysing the multifaceted role of this contact area (i.e. the Primorska area and the broader region), the programme group sheded light on its multilayered history.Though relatively small, the area offers a number of intriguing research questions. Our research was of special importance for science owing to the fact that it analysed a long segment of history spanning from the ancient Greek and Roman times to the post-war period. It started with the analysis of the ancient Greek and Roman presence in the area, and continue with that of the Migration Period, the Slavic settlement, the history of the Slavic-Romance border, the history of the contact between Venice and Byzantium in the area, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the early modern period. The analysis of the issues related to modern history covered the periods of Illyrian Provinces and the rise of national movements and national ideologies in the area. Special attention was paid to the development of Trst/Trieste, Koper/Capodistria and Gorica/Gorizia and the relations of these border towns with their hinterlands. The history of the area also exhibits special features when it comes to WWI and WWII. In addition to the afore-mentioned “contact issues”, it is marked by the confrontation of the three dominant ideologies of the 20th century, owing to which WWII forms a very complex historical issue in this part of the world. Its consequences were still felt in the postwar period when the afore-mentioned border towns (Trieste, Koper) played a special role in the Cold War. Finally, the analysis took into account the issue of national minorities on both sides of the Slovene-Italian border. The research results fill the gap in the relevant research field in Slovenia and the international area. The research topics were dealt with by addressing the local, regional, national and global aspects of social life, with particular emphasis being placed on the relations between these four levels.
Significance for the country
The research into the history of the area where several national identities co-exist is of vital importance for efficient cross-border integration. In the past, the area in question was characterized by rigid cultural, ideological and political boundaries, with many of them having been recently reproduced or even resurrected. It is difficult to imagine efficient communication at the broadest social level without thorough background knowledge of stereotypes and symbolic characteristics of excluding national narratives that still hinder the cooperation between the neighbouring nations despite recent political and economic integration. Within such a context, the research was of benefit to the development of study topics in history courses and extracurricular activities both in Slovenia and in the Italian area where the Slovene minority lives since we payed special attention to the importance of national minority protection and the meaning of intercultural dialogue. Most importantly, our research work is of great value to the entire Slovene society as it facilitates better understanding of historical processes that make Western Slovenia a complex and unique area. By studying and interpreting them, the knowledge of this area both in the Slovene and international context improves and, as a result, contributes to the growth of its development potential. With the area boasting diverse cultural heritage, the work within this programme has also contributed to evaluate and classify it, thus increasing the knowledge of it and helping to preserve it. The research results are available to all public institutions so they are able to use it for conceiving socio-economic development plans, improving education, facilitating intercultural communication, and conserving cultural heritage. Furthermore, they form the basis for applications for EU structural funds and the development of innovative products in tourism, f.e. European territorial cooperation projects, as well as applied projects funded by local communities and private companies and Horizon 2020 (the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation) as well. The researchers disseminate their thematic, theoretical and methodological findings through two platforms: either through the educational process at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Primorska (where they teach at all study levels) or via scientific conferences and guest lectures where they address both local / national interested public (lectures within local history departments of the libraries and within other institutions) and foreign experts. By participating in scientific conferences abroad the members of the programme group promote Slovene science in the international arena and carry out smaller scientific projects with research institutions from the USA, Austria, Germany, Russia, Italy, etc., as well as foreign publishing houses where the programme group members regularly publish their scientific texts.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
