Projects / Programmes
Violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Slovenian territory in the 20th century
January 1, 2022
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| 5.06.00 |
Social sciences |
Political science |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, characteristics of totalitarian systems, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Fascism, National socialism, Communism, Jews, Religious Freedom.
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
June 30, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
54 |
226 |
202 |
3.74 |
| Scopus |
116 |
458 |
390 |
3.36 |
Researchers (14)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The aim of the programme "Violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Slovenian territory in the 20th century" is to research major characteristics and different forms of violence of all three totalitarian regimes on the Slovenian territory, Fascism, National Socialism and Communism, and, on the basis of scientific rules and methodological principles of historiography, contribute towards the uncovering of new historical facts and insights in this research field. It is crucial for the research to include Slovenians living outside the borders of present-day Slovenia, firstly, because the state borders were subject to violent changes, secondly, because people were forced to flee from violence to the other side throughout different periods, and thirdly, because of significant connection between Slovenians on all sides of the state border. Systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms already started in the Habsburg Monarchy, especially in the Slovenian part of Carinthia and Styria, continued through the First World War and in the inter-war period. We need to expose the Littoral and part of Carniola that became part of Italy after the Treaty of Rapallo, and Slovenians in Carinthia and Styria that came under Austria. Violations escalated during the Second World War when we faced two levels of events: occupation and resistance against it, which triggered civil war. After the war, the Communists rose to power. Massive-level massacres started but the violations of human rights continued until independence. The realisation level of the goals set for this research programme can be assessed as successful. By following an in-depth analysis of revolutionary violence during the Second World War and by researching various forms of violence of the Communist totalitarianism and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms after the war, we exposed several heavily under-researched problems. For several years there has been an ongoing project "Revolutionary Violence" pertinent to individual regions. 6 monographs have been published and the work continues. Special attention is paid to the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Carinthian plebiscite, persecution of Jews, actions of Fascism in the Littoral and Ljubljana Province, National Socialism, post-war Communist regime, i.e., the year 1945, judiciary, persecution of the Catholic Church and other opponents. Events during the Second World War and its aftermath, especially the cases of the worst form of violence and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, still stir numerous controversies across historiography. Providing new insights and research on the matter will contribute towards ideologically and politically unbiased discussion on the events and processes during the Second World War and its aftermath. This will have an impact on the awareness of how crucial it is to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms to ensure that such violations would never occur again.
Significance for science
In the current implementation period, the programme research group led by Dr. Tamara Griesser Pečar established itself as an important academic core that successfully conducted much of the pioneering research in the field of history of totalitarian regimes in Slovenia, above all from the viewpoint of violence and human rights violations. In this respect we can especially highlight research on revolutionary violence during the Second World War, since the research group started with a systematic analysis of this phenomenon across distinct geographical units. It should also be noted that the group members published a number of other referential studies, e.g., on the fate of Jews in the Slovenian ethnic territory in the 20th century, persecution of the Catholic Church and Catholics after the Second World War, on everyday life during Yugoslavia, etc. Research results were published in numerous domestic and foreign scholarly publications and presented in international conferences. On the one hand, the extension will enable us to continue research that has already started, and on the other it will serve us as the basis for further deepening of scientific work that will produce important results for the entire Slovenian historiography and enable their integration into the international scientific sphere. The results of the research programme represent an important contribution at various scientific levels. In the first place, further research will thoroughly analyse certain aspects of violence related to totalitarian regimes that have been so far entirely overlooked by Slovenian and foreign historiographies. This applies to the scrutiny of revolutionary violence in Dolenjska and Prekmurje regions as well as other research themes that have already been highlighted. The research on these topics will enable a deeper and broader knowledge and understanding of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and corollary the structure and functioning of totalitarianisms. A more in-depth picture of the causes for human rights violations will be established, explore which groups of the population were subjected to these measures and the consequences of violations on the individual, social and political spheres. The results of the research will be transferred to the pedagogical process by those members of the program group who also work in higher education. This will ensure an important transfer of knowledge to the younger generations of historians. On the other hand, research of totalitarianism on the Slovenian territory, where three of the most profound types of totalitarian regimes (Italian Fascism, German National Socialism and Communism) took place, offers a great many research opportunities that, in terms of relevance, transcend a mere local level. Structured history of the territory represents an ideal case study to which many methodological approaches can be applied, especially those related to comparative and transnational history. By comparing the forms of human rights violations perpetrated by the aforementioned totalitarianisms in Slovenia, we can gain a deeper grasp of their differences and similarities. This also holds true of transnational approach, as the study of the history of totalitarianism in Slovenia shows that we cannot adhere to national or today's state frames. For this reason, systematic and complex analysis also promises a broader contribution to the theory and development of methodological approaches. Accordingly, the programme intends to strengthen international cooperation with institutions in Europe engaged in researching the characteristics of totalitarian systems. Within the previous programme we won a bilateral project with the research Institute of Contemporary History from Belgrade (project "Slovenia and Serbia in Yugoslavia: everyday life between repression and opposition"). In the future, we intend to continue this cooperation and establish new professional networks through bilateral projects and participation in international scientific conferences and meetings. These will initiate further exchange of research findings and insights, open up the possibility to publish in foreign journals, and give new opportunities to start joint research projects. Finally, this will securely place Slovenian historiography in the international scientific dialogue. We must emphasise that we will pay special attention to the dissemination of programme work to the general public. This will be ensured in various ways. During the implementation period itself, research results will be regularly released to the public by means of national and regional media (e.g., in the form of interviews and other broadcasts on television and radio). As shown in our reports, the programme team has already done successful dissemination work in the previous funding periods. In addition, we plan to present the programme results in the form of public lectures and roundtable debates. This is how research activities and results will be readily accessible to the general public and strengthen a more informed social dialogue.
Significance for the country
The programme will have important socio-cultural effects that will be manifested in several aspects. First of all, research will contribute to a closer connection between the academic and non-academic spheres. A skilful incorporation of the research programme's scientific results into contemporary debates has proved to be particularly effective as the topic of human rights violations touches on the current social issues that the Slovenian cultural sphere has been coping with for decades. The unresolved attitude towards the past places a heavy burden on the Slovenian public and contributes to the increasingly obvious polarization of the society. The solution to this problem is not in silencing the unpleasant aspects of the past, but in raising the level of social discourse, where an unencumbered historical approach can play an important role. The research results of the programme group contribute towards an unbiased ideological and political discussion on the events and processes during the Second World War and its aftermath and affect the awareness of how crucial it is to respect fundamental human rights and freedoms to ensure that such violations would never happen again.
