We warmly invite you to attend the seminar Between Policy and Practice: The Slovene Model of Minority Protection,
which will be led by Dr. Lara Sorgo from the Institute for Ethnic Studies in Ljubljana.
The lecture will take place on June 9th at 10:00 AM at the Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Rynek Starego Miasta 31, Room 32, Warsaw.
The model of national and ethnic minority protection in Slovenia is characterised by three distinct approaches, each reflecting a unique category of minority policy: the relatively comprehensive legal protection for historical ethnic minorities, the so-called autochthonous national minorities (specifically the Italian and Hungarian minorities); a selective set of provisions aimed at protecting the Roma community; and a rudimentary model for the protection of newly-formed national minorities. These three categories present a dynamic landscape of minority protection, marked by varying degrees of legislative support and institutional development. In the case of the autochthonous Italian and Hungarian communities, the framework for minority protection is grounded in extensive constitutional provisions that aim to safeguard the language, culture, and identity of their members. The regions of Slovene Istria and Prekmurje, which are ethnically mixed (Slovene-Italian and Slovene-Hungarian border areas, respectively), are particularly significant in this context. Here, language and educational policies play a central role in ensuring the equal status of these minority groups. At the same time, these policies foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of both the majority and minority languages and cultures, contributing to a bilingual and multicultural environment.
This workshop invites you to explore the legal provisions that govern the protection of these minority groups. We will begin by offering a comprehensive overview of Slovenia’s minority protection model, focusing on the institutional framework for both the Italian and Hungarian communities. Despite the robust legislative framework that supports the autochthonous national communities, it is important to recognize that the effectiveness of these policies is not always guaranteed. The session will then delve into empirical research findings from recent projects that examines the educational model and public administration. This research sheds light on the real-world impact of these policies, offering valuable insights into their relative success and areas for improvement. Finally, we will turn our attention to the state of the media in Slovenia, particularly how radio, television, print, and electronic media serve the needs of minority language communities. The role of the media is crucial in maintaining cultural identity, and this segment will explore the challenges and opportunities in ensuring the continued presence of minority languages in the public sphere.
Through this multifaceted exploration, the workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and ongoing developments in the field of national and ethnic minority protection in Slovenia.
