Atypical characteristics
The Slovenian people are largely English-speaking. Indeed, the absence of dubbing and the systematic broadcasting of foreign programs in their original version with subtitles encourage this culture, as does the early learning of languages in elementary school. In addition, Slovenians attach great importance to family structure: many households live in Ljubljana or Maribor during the week, before returning to the family home for weekends or vacations. Preserving the environment is one of the country's main concerns, with civics and waste sorting courses starting in elementary school. Politically, Slovenia is largely divided, with a fragmentation of ideologies and parties. Last but not least, Slovenians are very sporty. Sport contributes to the development of a Slovenian way of life. Slovenian society attaches great philosophical importance to sport as a form of well-being and communion with nature. This spirit is strongly supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, which defines sport as a key health, social and educational issue. It's also about expressing a more inclusive form of identity.
The weight of history: minorities mostly from the Balkans
The Serbian minority - around 39,000 people, or 2% of the total population - settled on Slovenian territory from the 16th century, at the time of the Ottoman invasion. Migration continued over the centuries, and increased under Yugoslavia. This immigration, often economic, has not yet led to national minority status. Notable figures from this minority include former Ljubljana mayor Zoran Janković and Slovenian national team and Atletico Madrid soccer goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
The Croatian minority - 36,000 people, or 1.8% of the total population - settled in at a time when Slovenia and Croatia were one. This is a long-standing policy of assimilation, which obviously does not go hand in hand with official status as a national minority. Political tensions between the two countries since their respective independence have not spared the Croatian minority. Some, however, have managed to make a career for themselves, such as the eminent art historian Izidor Cankar and former Interior Minister Dragutin Mate.
The Bosnian minority - 32,000 people, or 1.4% of Slovenia's total population - live mainly in Ljubljana. Migration flows were continuous in the 20th century due to the improved economic situation in Slovenia. Bosnian national team and Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovič is one of them.
The Albanian minority - 6,200 strong - was formed at the time of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, against a backdrop of persecution of Muslim populations. It continued to grow during the episodes of ethnic tension that marked the break-up of Yugoslavia. Long sidelined by Slovenian society, its situation has improved considerably over the last few decades, without however gaining any official status.
Generally speaking, Slovenia has sought to promote a policy of assimilation for these minority populations, in order to erase any nostalgia for a supranational identity. The survival of this heritage - notably through the use of Serbo-Croatian by around 5% of the population - has tended to diminish in recent years, due to a desire on the part of Slovenian youth to embrace a more Western future.
From tiny minorities to official status
The Hungarian minority - 6,300 strong - is recognized by the Slovenian state. An ambitious cultural policy has been in place since the mid-1990s, with the organization of joint exhibitions and festivities. Slovenian-Hungarian bilingualism is recognized by the Slovenian Constitution, and is authorized in the municipalities of Dobrovnik, Hodos and Lendava. In Lendava, for example, it is not uncommon to find street names in Hungarian. Several schools also teach Magyar as a co-official language.
The Italian minority - 2,300 strong - is officially recognized by the Slovenian constitution. The majority live on the Slovenian coast. Bilingualism is permitted in the municipalities of Koper, Piran, Izola and Ankaran. As a result, the Italian language is taught alongside the Slovenian language in schools in these municipalities. This neighboring influence is also evident in the local atmosphere, with its typical gastronomy and the promotion of a more Mediterranean spirit than inland.
Linguistic isolation and new perspectives
Slovenian is the country's only official language. It is a Slavic language, spoken not only in Slovenia, but also in the border regions of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Carinthia (Austria). It borrows a third of its vocabulary from Serbo-Croatian, and also has a Latin influence. It's a difficult language to learn, only marginally exportable, with its many declensions and distinctive accentuation.
On the whole, Slovenians have a very good command of foreign languages. English is now a compulsory part of the school curriculum. The second most studied language is German (34% of students). Slavic languages, such as Serbo-Croatian, are mainly used by older generations, while Italian has seen real growth since the 2010s (15% of learners). Learning the language of Molière has been on a steady decline since the beginning of the 2010s.
Birth of the "yougonostalgia" feeling in Slovenia
This is a cultural, sociological and anthropological phenomenon that highlights both positive and negative nostalgia for Yugoslavia's past. A sense of solidarity, a commitment to non-alignment and the memory of socialism with a "human face" stand in opposition to state corruption and the repression of freedoms. For the Slovenian case, Boštjan Rogelj's well-documented article on the subject, published in 2017, should be read with interest. He offers a balanced reading of Yugoslav remembrance in Slovenia, which comes mainly from family circles and remains relatively untouched in high school and university. This fascination with the united past of the South Slavic states can also be seen in its tourist dimension, with the development of an urban itinerary that allows visitors to discover Ljubljana's Yugoslav heritage.
