Ethnodemographic Position of Serbs in Slovenia

The scientific monograph examines the ethnodemographic development of Serbs in Slovenia from the mid-15th century to the contemporary period, with particular attention to changes after World War II. It explores the historical and geographical foundations of Slovenia’s development, as well as the political, social, economic, and cultural factors that shaped the ethnodemographic position of Serbs, with a focus on Bela Krajina as a specific region.

The study provides a detailed account of Serbian settlement and life, including the Uskoks in Carniola and Styria, as well as the legal and social framework of their cultural development. It analyzes the ethnic structure of the population during the Austro-Hungarian period and between the two World Wars, with an emphasis on the Serbian ethnic group.

After World War II, the monograph traces the territorial distribution, biological dynamics, and migrations of Serbs, as well as the causes of changes in the ethnic, national, religious, and linguistic composition. Special attention is given to the “erased population,” in which Serbs constitute a majority, and to the effects of the socialist period and the establishment of the independent Republic of Slovenia on the position of the Serbian ethnic group.

The results highlight the long-term impact of historical and contemporary geopolitical, economic, and cultural determinants on the ethnodemographic development of Serbs. Although the largest ethnic group in Slovenia, Serbs lack the status of a national minority, emphasizing the importance of preserving their autochthonous population and cultural identity as a basis for achieving legal and social recognition in the future.

The monograph provides a systematic overview of historical and contemporary factors shaping the position of Serbs in Slovenia and represents a valuable resource for studying ethnodemography, cultural assimilation, and changes in national status within the context of the former Yugoslav territories.