Slovenia:

Quiet and Prosperous

Ethnic groups 92% Slovene 3% Croat 1% Serb 4% Other (Italian, Austrian and

Hungarian)

7,819 square miles (size of New Jersey)

Pop. 2 million Capital: Ljubljana

Julian Alps

Short (46 km) Adriatic Coastline

Plains and Rivers Main rivers

Drava Sava

Western Identity Roman Catholic Religion Habsburg (Austrian) rule from early

14th century until the end of World War I.

Illyrian Provinces of Napoleonic France from 1809 to 1813. Brought Slovenia the liberal ideas of the

French Revolution and a national awakening.

Habsburgs returned, began industrialization early in Slovenia

Napoleon’s French Empire, 1812

Union With Other South Slavs After WWI, Slovenia became part of Kingdom of Serbs,

Croats and Slovenes. In WWII, the Slovene territory of Yugoslavia was invaded

by the axis powers and split up between Germany, Italy and Hungary. Some Slovenes sided with Germany to counter the communist

partisan rebels. After WWII, Slovenia reunited with Communist

multiethnic Yugoslavia. Communist partisan leader Josip Broz Tito ruled until his death

in 1980.

Slovenia Under Tito

Economic and social life hindered by fear and policies. Arrests, show trials and purges.Centrally planned economy, industry nationalized and

private ownership of land limited.

1960s Reforms Economic (Slovenia more

developed than the rest of Yugoslavia)

Police controls loosened up Border controls loosened up

More freedom of movement for foreigners and Yugoslavs brought greater prosperity.

Constitution of 1974 New constitution gave Yugoslav republics more

independence. Little change in quality of life for most Yugoslavs Serbia proposed overturning portions of 1974

constitution in order to make republics of Yugoslavia economically and culturally more equal. Slovenia, being the wealthiest, felt threatened.

Reaction and Beginning of Push for Independence

1987 magazine article outlined a new Slovene national program: political pluralism, democracy, a market economy and independence.Liberal Slovenian Communist leader did not oppose.

Yugoslav Leaders React 1988, 3 Slovenian journalists for Mladina

weekly and 1 junior army officer sentenced to prison by military court.

Fall 1988, Serbia (Milosevic) took away Kosovo’s autonomy. Surprises and worries Slovenians, who

condemn the move

Slovenia Keeps Pushing

1989, opposition parties demanded a sovereign state for Slovenians based on democracy and human rights.

Slovenian parliament legalized management of its own resources and command of armed forces.

“Meeting of truth” in Ljubljana not allowed.

Boycotts

All republics except Croatia participated in economic boycott of Slovenia.Cut off 25% of exports.

1990, Slovenian delegates walked out of Congress of League of Communists.

Toward Independence

April 1990, 1st Yugoslav republic to hold free elections and shed 45 years of Communist rule.Kucan elected president (Party of Democratic Renewal)

Ties Broken

Serbia rejected Slovenian (and Croatian) proposal for loose Confederation and threatened to declare a state of emergency.

Slovenian parliament declared its own constitution sovereign.

Referendum

December 23, 1990, question of independence.88% voted for independent republic.

Effective in 6 months.

Belgrade Reacts

Called move secessionist and anti-constitutional. 1991, Yugoslav federal government raided and

misappropriated funds of Yugoslav monetary system.

Slovenia Prepares and Proceeds

Stockpiled weapons. June 25, 1991 (6 months after referendum), Pulled

out of Yugoslavia.

Conflict Begins June 27, Yugoslav forces marched

on Slovenia. Resistance from Territorial Defense

Forces, police, mothers of Yugoslav troops and general population.

Within days, federal army began to disintegrate. Belgrade threatened aerial

bombardment and all-out war.

Federal army bombed T.V. station

Conflict Ends July 7 (10 days later)

Yugoslav government agreed to truce.

66 died. Belgrade withdrew federal

army.

Today

UN member Due in NATO and EU, 2004 President Janez Drnovsek Prime Minister Anton Rop

Reasons for Slovenia’s Wealth and Peace.

Western orientation and developed economy.

No conflicting territorial claims.

Minimal minority issues 92% Slovene

Protested through environmentalism, rather than just ethnic hatred.

Independence was a latent result.

Ethnic Mix

92%

3%

1%

4%

Slovene

Croat

Serb

Other