Projects / Programmes
Balkan Borderlands - Balkanske meje: nasilje, konflikti in sodelovanje (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
Researchers (15)
Organisations (1)
Significance for science
Project »Thinking Balkan Borderlands: violence, conflicts, cooperation« has significantly contributed to until recently almost non-existent border studies in the region of the Western Balkans, by focusing on the issues of violence, which also generates stereotypical presentations of the Balkans (Balkanisms) and mythicized representations of history. The use of innovative methodology of transnational history gives the project added value. In Europe has this methodological approach proven to be important contribution to deepen and produce more holistic historical studies in transnational context. Emphasing mutual study of historiographies of the “Other” or of “other” nations delivered new insights and thus stimulate greater tolerance in society. »Spatial turn« in history has shown the inadequacies or rather shortcomings of classical methods, used to study international relations solely as relations between two (or more) national-states. However, national-states are not to be discarded as analytical tools, although researches, which in global context seek local phenomena, require different, transnational, not international instruments. Latter only deal with horizontal relations between states. Therefore, project aimed to study borderlands of several states and stressed regional over state level, even though the multi-level state apparatus as institution of authority has been in the scope of the cluster on diplomacy and political relations thoroughly examined. In that regard, the consequences of political decisions to local populations of borderlands, which have often led to conflicts and violence, have been pointed out. These occurrences have characterized recent history of the Western Balkans that in some areas remains unstable, in spite of endeavors for integration to international alliances. Project results have reached, especially with international scientific conference and special publication of Acta Histriae, journal with high impact factor, wide international academic audience, while topics and collaborators came besides historiography also from the fields of sociology and ethnology. Research results are based on original studies in Slovene and foreign archives, libraries, photothecas and on the field (collecting oral testimonies); their heterogeneity is based on dealing with relatively large period (from the first Balkan war until today) and area (three borderlands of the Western Balkans). These areas have their own specifics, although united by the membership to the common state of former Yugoslavia. Slovene-Italian border is different in this respect; therefore, it received more attention. Scientific relevance of the project has been noticed especially during the research of politics of state capitals towards borderlands and the role of supranational institutions (e.g. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) at solving conflicts and creating conditions for the cooperation in the region. These topics have raised the attention of media, significantly in the time of violence outbursts, and in national historiographies. However, stereotypical and mythicized representation of the history of this region on which is based still strong nationalism, has been more often than not enhanced. Project studies problematize this issue and offer for this region new methodological tools, which stimulate cooperation on various levels and among different groups, as well as comparison with potential future studies of this topic.
Significance for the country
Visibility and importance of the project for Slovene and international historiography has been noted since the beginning of the project, when project members presented their results on symposiums (in Ljubljana, Maribor, New York, Opava, Lugano, Vienna, Pula and Lisbon), guest lectures and other forms of networking with research organizations abroad (universities in Trieste, Prague, Belgrade, Bratislava, Odessa, Bolzano, Oporo, Chieti-Pescara, Rijeka, Northern Illinois University, Moscow and Istituto regionale per la storia del Movimento di liberazione nel Friuli-Venezia Giulia). In Slovenia and abroad project coincided with two major anniversaries – 100 years since the beginning of World War I in 2014 (and one year later the Isonzo front) and 70 years since the end of World War II – which confirms the significance of project’s topic. History gained media attention, especially concerning World War I (e.g. we attended conference in the Russian Scientific and Cultural Centre, Ljubljana), which in Slovenia took place precisely in the Slovene-Italian borderland, so the project members used this opportunity. At the events dedicated to World War II, on European level more attention was given to memory studies, while project members have also participated at discussions regarding annexation of the Littoral to Slovenia (Yugoslavia) (Borut Klabjan was one of the interviewees in the broadcast of Radio Koper “Dan vrnitve Primorske matični domovini« (The day of the return of the Littoral to the homeland)) and antifascist movements (e.g. international conference of the veterans from the states members of Forum of Slavic cultures International Foundation “The lessons of World War II and modern society” in National Museum of Contemporary History in Slovenia, 10. 4. 2015). Unfortunately (too) little attention received the 40th anniversary of signing the Osimo treaties, however, more is to be expected in 2017 (at the 40th anniversary when the treaties came into force). Members of project group have disseminated project results through the teaching process at the Faculty of Humanities, the University of Primorska (subjects History of Slavic-Roman border, History of diplomacy, The 20th century history, The history of European integrations) and Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, as well as directed students to choose similar topics for their theses. That these topics, embracing whole region of the Western Balkans, have been addressed in Slovenia, is a major strategic point for further project and other connections with states members of EU and those with the interest to join. References gained by the project members and knowledge exchanges with prominent foreign experts and wider public have therefore great potential, which researchers will try to use at their future research efforts. Results can contribute to more tolerant society by stimulating cooperation among various ethnic, religious, national and other communities in the time when Europe has been confronted with major issues and increase of nationalism. The emergence of the “Others” on so called Western Balkan route must not act as a cohesive element against migrants and refugees, but as common engagement in seeking peaceful solution to the problem that can seriously endanger European Union and its values.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2012,
2013,
2014,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2012,
2013,
2014,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
