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Slovene History

Code and title of the research programme: P6-0235, Slovene History

Code and name of the research organization: 0581, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts

Duration of the programme: January 2015 – December 2020

 

Researchers in the Department of History, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, comprise the core of the  research programme team Slovene History; other team members are external associates. A total of about 25 members includes three young researchers. The programme is financed by the Slovenian Research Agency and operates under the auspices of the Scientific Research Institute of the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana. Acad. Prof. Rajko Bratož, PhD, headed the programme team in the first research period (1999-2008). Since 2009 the programme has been helmed by Prof.  Božo Repe, PhD.

The team conducts a comprehensive research of Slovene history. Employing the comparative method whenever possible, the team seeks to examine all contributions to civilisation in the modern-day Slovene territory as well as in the broader regional and European context. With this in mind, the team  successfully obtained additional research projects in Slovenia and abroad. At present, a number of team members and external associates take part in the national research project on Borders in the Second World War in Slovenia, which is headed by Prof. Božo Repe (LINK). Prof. Marta Verginella, a member of the team, has successfully concluded two national research projects (Women and the First World War, and Women and Borders); in 2017 she won the prestigious ERC project entitled EIRENE – Post-War Transitions in Gendered Perspective: the Case of the North-Eastern Adriatic Region (LINK).

The team’s main research premise is to explore historiographical problems from fresh, more complex angles. The team also places great significance on the issue of public attitude towards history and the formation of historical consciousness; it has already prepared one panel on the topic and will continue to discuss it in future. Additionally, the team aims to publish syntheses of individual historical periods of  the Slovenian past, some of which have already been and others are yet to be published. Prof. Peter Štih, PhD, has published such a synthesis, as have Prof. Rajko Bratož and Prof. Vasko Simoniti, both of whom are now  retired.

In accordance with numerical indicators, The  programme at hand comprises one of the most prominent and internationally significant Slovenian research teams in the realm of historiography and humanities in general. Two team members are full members of the Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences, while most members are involved with various international institutions and projects or are members of research projects at other institutions in Slovenia. Since the team is employed by the University, an important emphasis is placed on education in all three cycles of the study programmes, as well as on the development of study programmes. This enables a direct transfer of research results to pedagogical and public use. The development of young researchers is of utmost importance to the department, as is the collaboration with foreign students and researchers. Furthermore, the team has developed a diversified social network with universities and research institutions around the world.

In Slovenia, the programme plays an important role in the preservation of national identity and cultural heritage. Its members participate in various local projects, particularly those that aim to discover, preserve and develop its potential in the tourist sector based on remnants of the past. The contributions of the research team to the familiarity of the history as, apart from the language, the main component of the national identity, are on a par with the awareness of how important it is to remain connected to the international currents. Therefore, the comparative perspective serves as one of its basic starting points, an objective and critical view of one’s own history to overcome uncritical national self-sufficiency. At the same time, the team focuses on presenting Slovene history to the global public, on making comparisons with kindred nations, and on presenting relations with Slovene neighbours and major states. It also pays attention to the balanced number of publications in Slovene and other languages, as well as to the development of Slovene academic terminology.

In addition to publishing academic texts, team members are prominent authors of textbooks and teaching materials for various levels of education in Slovenia; they also contribute to the alternative textbooks in the Balkans. They prepare or participate in various exhibitions, documentaries, media events, and other public events. The research team is also highly aware of the importance of  modern media; its members Assist. Peter Mikša, PhD, and Assist. Prof.  Kornelija Ajlec, PhD, run the most prominent Slovene history-related website, namely zgodovina.si. Moreover, members of the research team are relevant speakers in the media and are frequently invited to interpret historical events or periods for the public.

From the beginning of the most recent research period in 2015 until the end of 2017, the members of the team published 19 academic and 8 expert monographs; 62 original academic papers; 5 academic overview papers; 21 expert and 20 general articles; 12 academic  papers for conferences; 47 summaries of academic papers for conferences; 54 individual academic texts or chapters in monographs; 11 independent professional texts or chapters in a monograph; 1 university and 2 elementary textbooks; 11 other teaching materials; 85 various writings (encyclopaedia entries, reviews, exhibition catalogues, prefaces, etc.). They held 37 lectures at foreign universities and 89 contributions at conferences without print. They prepared or participated in the preparation of 25 exhibitions and acted as full or partial editors of 70 publications. They were interviewed on 29 occasions and took part in 20 radio or TV programmes, along with another 27 radio or TV events. They also participated in one documentary.