National Identity of Slovenia

National Identity of Slovenia

    National identity is a concept we as individuals have connected with in one way or the other. So, what is national identity? There is more meaning to it than a belonging or connection. Evan Charney (2003) defines national identity:

"...in terms of a common culture and common language, a real or imagined heritage, a connection, real or imagined, with an historical homeland, and a populace that exhibits ‘nationalist sentiments’ –– affective ties to one’s conationals and a belief in the value of the nation as an enduring community extending into the past and continuing into the future" (p. 295).

Through these identities, nations gain legitimate political power and are accepted as a guide toward one nation’s development (Triandafyllidou, 1998). However, a nation’s identity is established through how it perceives itself and how it can distinguish itself from “others” (Triandafyllidou, 1998). These “others” as Triandafyllidou (1998) states: “...are significant others, other nations and/or states, from which the community tried to liberate and/or differentiate itself” (p. 594). Othering is a significant feature in how a nation establishes its identity. It creates a relationship between two (or more) nations that actively work to prove one’s authenticity, distinctiveness, and/or independence (Triandafyllidou, 1998). It is the drive that enables nations to prove their autonomy further (Triandafyllidou, 1998). As this blog focuses is on Slovenia, this post will take a deep dive on its national identity with the effects of the “others” and its inner complexities.

What is Slovenia?

    Before it became a separate nation, Slovenia used to be part of a cumulation of different ethnic nations controlled by multiple states and empires with its successor states (Allcock et al., 2023). Those are the Habsburgs of Austria (Holy Roman Empire), the Austrian Empire, and Austria-Hungary (Allcock et al., 2023). The reoccurring theme from Slovenia’s history is that it never got a chance to be politically autonomous. By the 8th century, Slovenia was under the rule of the Franks of central Europe and the next absorbed by the Holy Roman Empire (Lambert, 2022). From the 10th to the 13th centuries, Slovenia remained under German domination with the addition of religious conversion to Christianity (Lambert, 2022). The people of Slovenia, or Slovenes, have shown resistance to these establishments; but were thwarted back and further restricted (Lambert, 2022). The 20th century was a turning point for Slovenia when it became a republic (along with six other distinct countries) in a socialist state called Yugoslavia. Essentially the socialist state found itself in a multifaceted crisis, with other republics waging inter-ethnic tensions that transformed into an ethnic war (Republic of Slovenia, 2021). These clashing eventually led to the disbandment of Yugoslavia, with Slovenia gaining independence in 1991 (Republic of Slovenia, 2021). Shortly thereafter, Slovenia became a part of the European Union in 2004.

What is it to be Slovenian?

    We know what national identity is and the history of Slovenia, but what is its national identity? How does Slovenia define itself? Slovenia never had full political autonomy in its historical context, so it would be challenging to align itself fully with its history. It is considered a political project since it has only been an independent nation as of 1991 (around 30 years) (Booth, 2014). It begs the question of what makes it so unique. Defining Slovenia’s national identity is quite tricky as it is a complex definition to fit a nation that is still stabilizing itself. As well as the effect of othering that aids in the formation of a nation’s identity. In terms of Triandafyllidou’s “othering”, Slovenia does not quite fit the model. Triandafyllidou (1998) states:

“The notion of a significant other refers to another nation or ethnic group that is territorially close to, or indeed within, the national community and threatens, or rather is perceived to threaten, its ethnic and/or cultural purity and/or its independence" (p. 600).

For Slovenia to have a significant other, the nation must be under some form of threat. Either within its nation such as immigrant communities, or external threats, such as its neighboring countries. The lack of this type of “other” is one of the reasons why Slovenia is one of the complex nations when it comes to its identity, as othering has no role in it whatsoever.

    There are some different ways to approach this nation’s identity to see if it fits within the parameters of an internal or external significant other. Nevertheless, it would still be challenging to say that they have a significant “other”. When taking in Triandafyllidou’s (1998) model, she states, “In other words, the members of one community have a number of features in common, for example, language or dress code, which constitute the markers of their identity” (p. 596). This definition could apply to Slovenia as one of the ways it initially tried to differentiate itself from others, mainly through the Slovene language. Though it isn’t enough to define the whole nation, it almost always falls back to the language as a prominent feature of its nationalism (Mutschlechner, 2008). It was through the language that the adjective “Slovenian” was coined to mark the recognition of the Slovenes (Mutschlechner, 2008). Literacy had a dual purpose: gaining a national identity or recognition through educational associations and publications (Booth, 2014). The language can be the most unique in the world, but it is not strong enough to solely base its national identity from. Any nation could advocate for the same type of distinctiveness. The language itself is not under threat today; therefore, to tie this back to “othering”, it does not fit into either internal or external significant others.

    When considering an external significant other, Slovenia once again falls short. One example is its European Union membership. Compared to its neighboring countries and former Yugoslavia republics, Slovenia has had a relatively easy transition to the EU (Cipan, 2023). In fact, when it comes to European identity, Slovenia has a strong hold on it as “European identity cannot be defined on grounds of cultural heritage and history" (Karlsson, 2009, p. 7). When asked how the Slovenian residents view themselves, many responded as Europeans, specifically Central or Western European (Booth, 2014). Through the EU, Slovenia would appear to be more aligned with its neighboring countries such, as Austria and Hungary, not under the threat of them. Hence it does not have an external significant other.

Conclusion

    Without the “othering” elements it is difficult to state exactly what Slovenia’s national identity is. With an internal or external significant other, Slovenia’s identity can be any kind, from a European view to a Balkan stereotype. To exactly pinpoint Slovenia’s national identity is a complex idea as it has yet to determine it.

(Word Count: 1,110)

References

Allcock, J. B., & Gosar, A., & Lavrencic, K. (2023, January 28). Slovenia. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Slovenia

A Short History of Slovenia. (2021, February, 14). Gov.si. Retrieved January 29, 2023 from https://www.gov.si/en/

Booth, R. (2014). National Identity at the Margins of Europe: History, Affect and Museums in Slovenia [Doctorate Dissertation, University of Connecticut Graduate school]. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6606&context=diss ertations

Charney, E. (2003). Identity and Liberal Nationalism. The American Political Science Review, 97(2), 295–310. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3118210

Cipan, V. (2023, January 7). Comparison of Slovenia, Croatian, and Western Balkans in 2023 – economy and politics. viborc.com. https://viborc.com/comparison- slovenia-croatia-western-balkans-gdp-ppp-hdi/

Karlsson, I. (2009). What is a nation? Global Political Trends Center (GPoT). http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep07700

Lambert, T., (2022). A brief history of Slovenia. Local Histories. https://localhistories.org/a-brief-history-of-slovenia/

Mutschlechner, M., (2008). The struggle of the Slovenes for their language. The World of the Habsburgs. https://ww1.habsburger.net/en/chapters/struggle-slovenes- their-language

Triandafyllidou, A. (1998). National identity and the “Other.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 21(4), 593–612.

https://is.muni.cz/el/1423/podzim2005/SOC765/um/870949/National_identity_an d_the_other_Anna_T.pdf