Projects / Programmes
Border Fascism – Social and Cultural History of Fascism in the Slovenian Littoral
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.11.02 |
Social sciences |
Ethnic studies |
Ethnic studies - humanistic aspect |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H250 |
Humanities |
Contemporary history (since 1914) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
Borderland Fascism, Julian March (Venezia Giulia), ideology, place, society, Rapallo border
Researchers (19)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The research project entitled “Borderland Fascism(” – Social and Cultural History of Fascism in the Slovenian Littoral will focus on the under-researched area of cultural and social history of fascism in the Julian March (Venezia Giulia). It will undertake an analysis of the practices that marked the territory of the new provinces, practices whose ideological imprint shaped multilayered aspects of the border region today shared by Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
In the period between the two World Wars, fascist ideology and political practice in Julian March “mutated” into a special form, into the so-called “borderland fascism” (“
The singularity of fascism in the “newly annexed provinces” (“province nuove”) is defined by “double orientation”, considering fascism recognized two simultaneous opponents, namely, Slavic/Slovenian and Croatian
Following their political annexation, the new provinces had to be “integrated” not only into the state, but also into the new ideological reality of fascism: i.e., into its cultural, social, landscape, architectural, infrastructural, economic reality etc.
For this reason, the regime’s efforts (in contrast to other parts of the state) went in two distinct directions: (“outwards” (officially)
This resulted in the fascist regime’s taking of a pronouncedly ideological stand in Julian March which exhibited the regime’s ideological elements to the “allogeni” (“aliens”) and to the international public. In Julian March, even more so than in other parts of Italy, the regime presented itself as the unimpeachable builder (of roads, schools, water distribution systems, etc.), while it functioned as (“a brutal repressive machinery”
The following areas will be the subject of research:
(1. The role of national institutions in denationalization and assimilation processes;
(2. The role of the repressive apparatus;
(3. Ideologization of social events and the role of local Slovenian, Croatian and Italian elites;
(4. Commemorative ideological marking of the region;
(5. Imagology – the image of the “other” (in Italian and Slovenian/Croatian literature);
(6. Marking of the environment with fascist ideology and fascist discourse in the urban environment;
(7. “Romanization” of the Catholic Church in Julian March;
(8. Penetration of ideology into the private sphere;
(9. Gender studies (regime’s attitude towards (Slavic) women, homosexual behaviour etc.).
Interdisciplinary methodology includes an analysis of discursive practices, imagology, iconography, onomastics, collection and analysis of oral accounts, and standard methodology of work with archival sources. Taking account of Slovenian, Italian, and other international literature, our research of the impact of fascist ideology and politics in the region will produce a multi-layered presentation of the “image of the Julian March” under fascism.
Significance for science
In Slovenian historiography there has not been any comprehensive and in-depth research carried out on Border fascism in the Venezia Giulia which took into account new, interdisciplinary approaches. The results of the proposed project filled the vacuum in the research sphere in Slovenia. They are not only comparable to similar Italian, Croatian and other foreign studies in this field, but also trigger a more active discourse in the international academic sphere through their complementary as well as conflicting conclusions. Until now most Slovenian researches in this field have been focused on certain elements primarily from political history. Consistent interdisciplinary research, however, can incorporate also other aspects of Border fascism such as the relationship between the national political groups and population strata present in the border area which often dealt did not take into account the archive material and literature from both sides of the border. The project introduces novelties in the methodology and theory as well as analytical practice based on the modern research approaches in European historiography, historical anthropology, culturology, sociology and comparative literature. By examining Border fascism through the diplomatic, social, cultural and historical perspectives we can better evaluate and complement existing theories and researches. To improve the comparative analysis the research combined archive materials with other types of sources (e.g. biographical sources, memoires, newspapers, literature). Written sources were complemented by research in the field, i.e. by using the oral history and monitoring the ideologically marked urban and non-urban environment which represents the uninvestigated area in this field. By using modern approaches and integrating various humanistic and social sciences in the field of research of a primary historical phenomenon, the project has contributed to the development of studies on fascism, nationalism and ideologies also from the methodological point of view. The proposed project also complemented the existing historiography and other studies in the field.
Significance for the country
The direct importance of the project for Slovenian economy and society lies in the fact that its results can be used by all public institutions in managing the social and economic development and improving education, intercultural communication and cultural heritage preservation, especially in with a view to: - provide modern knowledge and material for teaching history and cultural heritage; - preserve Slovenian tangible and intangible cultural heritage and ensure its availability to managers. The results of the project were incorporated in the pedagogical process of graduate and postgraduate studies in Slovenia. The members of the project group that were at the same time the lecturers (full and associate professors, assistant professors) at the Department of History and the Department of Italian Studies at the Faculty of Humanities Koper, University of Primorska. Certain contents as well as methodological and theoretical novelties were directly or indirectly incorporated in the following courses of study: History, Slovenian Studies, Cultural Studies and Anthropology, and Italian Studies, levels 1, 2 and 3. The results of the research project made an important contribution to the reduction of shortcomings in Slovenian universities as regards the quality and competitiveness at the international and European level, which is evident among others from the National Research and Development Programme (NRDP) (1.2.2). Moreover, the research results were useful for planning history lessons in schools, drafting a possible Slovenian-Italian historical textbook as well as for planning the contents of the study of Slovenian language and literature. This would contribute to greater coherence between culture, science and education with the aim to increase the quality of research and teaching, which is one of the tasks laid down in NRDP (4.5.2). Education of highly trained staff – which is of key importance for Slovenian society – complemented with the development of innovative historical approaches (and their appropriate application in school curricula). The presentation of above topics enables also its application in lifelong learning. The project was also important for the identification, recognition and correct evaluation of cultural heritage in the multicultural region, so called “juncture of European history” which is reflected in ideological markings of the social, urban, rural, architectural, infrastructural and other environments. In the framework of the researches we complemented and scientifically investigated before undervalued types of sources such as memoires, diaries, personal legacies, photographic material etc. The studies provided the basis for the monitoring, recording, evaluation and preservation of cultural heritage.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
