Studied by 17 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Self-Determination
This concept revolves around freedom. If a group of people can freely determine their political status and if they can freely pursue their socio-cultural and economic developments without interference, then they can determine their statehood and government on a nation/state basis. Once achieved, it can fuel the birth of new countries that secede from states that interfere and impinge upon their right to self-determination.
Kosovo - Example of Self-Determination
A 2008 self-determination case that was, unfortunately, bumpier than the self-determination cases of Slovenia and Croatia from Serbia and is still being contested today.
Scotland - Example of Self-Determination
An ongoing case of self-determination surrounding it becoming a sovereign state independent from the UK.
Catalan Countries - Example of Self-Determination
The Catalan Countries refer to territories where the Catalan language is spoken in Spain. They include the Spanish regions of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, and parts of Aragon (La Franja) and Murcia (Carche), as well as the Principality of Andorra, the department of Pyrénées-Orientales and the city of Alghero in Sardinia (Italy). Have a motivation for secession from Spain.
Flanders - Example of Self-Determination
For some inhabitants, Flanders is more than just a geographical area or the federal institutions (Flemish Community and Region). Supporters of the Flemish Movement even call it a nation and pursue Flemish independence, but most people (approximately 75%) living in Flanders say they are proud to be Belgian and opposed to the dissolution of Belgium.
Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States
An agreement signed at Montevideo, Uruguay on December 26, 1933 (and entering into force the following year), that established the standard definition of a state under international law.
Constitutive Recognition of a New State
A state can be seen as having become a state once it is recognized by other states.
- e.g., Does that make Kosovo an official state because over 1/2 of UN member countries have recognized it as so?
Declaratory Recognition of a New State
States become states when they meet legal criteria for statehood according to international law (e.g., Montevideo Convention). Because scholars of this viewpoint focus on legal reasons, they do not consider political factors for the understanding of the recognition of states.
Frozen Conflict
A situation in which active armed conflict has ended but no peace treaty or political framework actually resolves the conflict to the satisfaction of the combatants. Therefore, the conflict can legally start again at any moment creating an environment of insecurity and hostility.
- This term has commonly been used to describe post-Soviet conflicts but has since been applied to many extended & unresolved territorial disputes.
Nagorno-Karabakh - Frozen Conflict Example
NK is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but most of the region is governed by a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority. In '91, NK declared its independence from Azerbaijan and the first NK war lasted until '94. The NK Republic could not defend itself or extend its territory to establish a land border with Armenia which have caused it to be stuck in a frozen conflict. In 2017, the NK Republic was renamed as the Republic of Artsakh. The second NK war began in 2020 and since then, no UN member states have recognized NK/Artsakh and while discussions are being made among Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia; no tangible agreement has been made on recognizing NK/Artsakh. Since then, a blockade has commenced and conflict has remained frozen with no progress being made.
Cyprus - Frozen Conflict Example
This dispute has been frozen since '74. It's an ongoing dispute between the Greek Cypriot community which runs the Republic of Cyprus in the southern part of the island and the Turkish Cypriot community in the north of the island. The northern part of Cyprus is under de facto control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus but is not recognized internationally except by Turkey.
Lake Bled & The City of Bled
Known for its glacial lake and it being an infamous tourist attraction in Slovenia. The iconic Bled castle is perched on a rock that overlooks the lake. The city was converted into a health resort of sorts in the late 1800s with the help of Arnold Rikli, and after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian rule in 1918, Bled came under the rule of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It became a tradition for the ruling house of the time (House of Karadordevic) to summer in Lake Bled and Tito carried on that tradition when he built his residence there in 1947.
Arnold Rikli
A naturopath who significantly contributed to the City of Bled's development into a health resort in the second half of the 1800s.
Slovenia After WWI
- Hundreds of thousands of Slovenes were drafted to fight in the Austro-Hungarian army in WWI and over 30,000 of them died which was a huge loss for Slovenia.
- After WWI, the Corfu Declaration made the creation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia possible.
- Slovenia became the main hub of industry in Yugoslavia since it was the most industrialized and westernized part of Yugoslavia.
The Corfu Declaration
An agreement/declaration signed on the Island of Corfu after WWI on July 20th, 1917 that made the creation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia possible. This agreement was signed by the Yugoslav Committee of politicians in exile which included Slovene, Croat, and Serb representatives living in Austria Hungary. This declaration also had the political sponsorship from Great Britain and France who had avowed principles of national self-determination.
Fascist Italianization of Littoral
- In 1920, according to secret treaties, the former Austrian Littoral and Western part of the former Inner Carniola in Slovenia were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
- Approximately, 327,000 / 1.3 million Slovenes in Slovenia at the time were cut off from the remaining 3/4 of Slovenes due to this annexation.
- These Slovenes were subjected to forced Fascist Italianization after the fascists rose to power and aimed to eradicate the Slovenian middle class and their language.
TIGR Movement
- A militant anti-fascist group in Slovenia that was formed in 1927 to fight the Italian fascist regime.
- An abbreviation standing for Trieste, Istria, Gorizia, and Rijeka.
- They opted for targeted attacks on infrastructure and high-ranking Italian military militia and police personnel.
- The anti-fascist movement continued until 1941.
Slovenia During WWII
- Slovenia is the only present-day European country that was trisected and completely annexed by Germany, Italy, and Hungary during WWII.
- Germany & Hungary occupied northern Slovenia after Yugoslavia was invaded by Axis Powers on April 6th, 1941.
Slovenia After WWII
After WWII, beginning in February of 1944, Slovenia became part of Federal Yugoslavia. A socialist state was established but due to the Tito-Stalin feud/split, economic and personal freedoms were much more liberated in Slovenia and other states in Yugoslavia when compared to the rest of the Eastern Bloc.
Why did the USSR not intervene after the 1947 feud between Tito and Stalin?
Due to three main reasons:
1. Yugoslavia had the third most powerful army in the world.
2. Yugoslavia was an inefficient, very far distance from the USSR.
3. There were no Soviet troops located in Yugoslavia or in neighboring countries to Yugoslavia.
What was the role of the Truman Doctrine in developing Yugoslavia's economy post-Tito-Stalin-feud?
With the aims of the U.S. providing political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces; Yugoslavia received ~ $47 billion in the form of industrial equipment and money as reparations for war damages after WWII.
What was the role of the Kibbutz Model in developing Yugoslavia's economy post-Tito-Stalin-feud?
- The first post-WWII years in Yugoslavia saw the implementation of Soviet-style five-year plans and reconstruction through massive voluntary work.
- However, the economy was organized as a mixture of planned socialism and a market socialist economy.
- Factories = nationalized
- Land was partially nationalized & redistributed & partially collectivised.
- Workers were entitled to their share of the profits
- Similar to collective Kibbutz economies in Israel where collective communities rooted in agriculture use a mix of socialism and zionism to direct their economies.
Non-Aligned Movement
Founded in 1961, this was a group of nations that were not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the Tito-Stalin split of 1948, Yugoslavia became one of NAM's founding members.
- Many countries in the NAM called for decolonization through the "abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defense to serve the particular interests of any of the big powers."
- Countries should instead join together in support of national self-determination against all forms of colonialism and imperialism.
Whowere the main founding member leaders of the NAM?
- Nehru (India's PM)
- Sukarno (Indonesia's first president)
- Nasser (Egypt's president)
- Tito (Yugoslavia's president)
also...
- U Nu (Burma's PM)
- Nkrumah (Ghana's president)
What were the six federal republics of Yugoslavia?
Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, & Slovenia.
Where is Macedonia on a map of Yugoslavia?
Most southern part of Yugoslavia.
Where is Montenegro on a map of Yugoslavia?
To the southeast of Serbia, bordering Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Where is Bosnia & Herzegovina on a map of Yugoslavia?
Huge land mass bordering Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Where is Croatia on a map of Yugoslavia?
The land mass that borders Slovenia and kind of hugs the rest of Yugoslavia with a lot of its land bordering the sea.
Where is Slovenia on a map of Yugoslavia?
Northern most part of Yugoslavia that has borders with Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia.
Where is Serbia on a map of Yugoslavia?
Huge land mass that makes up the majority of the eastern part of Yugoslavia.
What is the capital of Macedonia?
Skopje
What is the capital of Montenegro?
Podgorica
What is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Sarajevo
What is the capital of Croatia?
Zagreb
What is the capital of Slovenia?
Ljubljana
What is the capital of Serbia?
Belgrade
Who were the main belligerents during Slovenia's Ten-Day War?
The Yugoslav People's Army and the Slovenian Territorial Defense.
What were the different conflict phases during the Slovenian war?
- Slovenia declares its independence on June 25th, 1991.
- Yugoslavia dispatches forces on June 27th from the Yugoslav People's Army to prevent future steps toward independence.
- Ten-Day war breaks out between the Slovenian Territorial Defense and the Yugoslav People's Army.
- The YPA suffered ~ 44 fatalities and ~ 146 wounded.
- The Slovenians suffered ~ 18 fatalities and ~ 182 wounded.
- The Brioni/Brijuni Accord officially ends the Ten-Day war on July 7th, 1991.
Brioni/Brujini Declaration/Agreement
An agreement signed on July 7th, 1991, by Slovenia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia which officially ended the Ten-Day War in Slovenia. This agreement called for a ceasefire, a 3-month moratorium on implementing the Slovenian declaration of independence, and a commitment to begin political negotiations on Yugoslavia's future.
Who was the leader of Serbia during the Yugoslav wars?
Slobodan Milosevic
Who was the leader of Bosnia during the Yugoslav wars?
Radovan Karadzic
Who was the leader of Croatia during the Yugoslav wars?
Franjo Tudman
What processes helped lead Slovenia to its independence?
- In the mid 1980s, literary magazine Nova Revija became one of the chief voices of dissent in Slovenia, promoting its independence from Yugoslavia.
- In 1987, the magazine included a plea for democratization and an increase in Slovenian independence with contributions to the Slovenian National Program.
- In 1989, the intellectual group around the magazine formed the Slovenian Democratic Union.
- The Slovenian Democratic Union soon emerged as one of the key political parties within the DEMOS (Democratic Opposition of Slovenia) coalition which was headed by Joze Pucnik.
- In December of 1989, numerous constitutional amendments were passed to introduce parliamentary democracy in Slovenia.
- DEMOS won the first free elections to the National Assembly of Slovenia in April 1990.
- All of these political steps toward democratization helped lead to Slovenia's independence and victory over Yugoslavia after the Ten-Day War.
What was DEMOS?
A coalition of center-right parties (meaning Democratic Opposition of Slovenia) created by an agreement between the Slovenian Democratic Union, the Social Democrat Alliance of Slovenia, the Slovene Christian Democrats, the Farmers' Alliance, and the Greens of Slovenia. All of these parties emerged after December of 1989 when the Communist government permitted multiparty political life in Slovenia.
Why was Slovenia not deeply involved in the bloody Yugoslav Wars from 1991 to 1999 on the territory of former Yugoslavia?
Slovenia wasn't deeply involved in the bloody Yugoslav wars, especially after its independence, because there was no Serbian minority in Slovenia for Yugoslavia to spend its efforts on.
What was the spirit behind Slovenia's first, new constitution after its independence? Who were the writers behind it and what were the main goals of the constitution?
- On December 23rd of 1991, Slovenia's new constitution was adopted which was followed in 1992 with laws promoting denationalization and privatization.
- The constitution was written by a group of poets, writers, philosophers, and lawyers including Tone Jerovsek, Matevz Krivic, Tine Hribar, and Peter Jambrek.
- The spirit behind this constitution reflects an urge for Slovenia's independence and future to be relatable and representative with the people, hence the use of writers and poets over stuffy politicians.
What is the makeup of Slovenia's Parliament?
- Split into 2 chambers: the National Assembly and the National Council.
- The National Council represents social, economic, professional, and local interest groups and is made up of 40 members.
- The National Assembly is the highest legislative authority and is made up of 90 deputies who are elected on 4-year terms.
- 130 people sit on Slovenia's parliament in total.
What are three current political parties in Slovenia?
The Left (led by Asta Vrecko), the Freedom Movement (led by Robert Golob), and the Slovenian Democratic Party (led by Janez Jansa).
What is the term-length and function of Slovenia's president?
Serves as the head of the state but more so in a representative, figurehead way. Serves for 5 years and at a maximum, for two consecutive terms. Also serves as the commander-in-chief of Slovenian military forces.
Why does Slovenia's president have very limited power?
To avoid being under another dictatorship --> basically to avoid another Tito!
Joze Plecnik (1872-1957)
- A Slovene architect who had a strong impact on the modern identity and architecture of Ljubljana.
- Designed pivotal works such as the Triple Bridge, the Slovene National Assembly, and the University Library.
- His style is associated with the Vienna Secession style of architecture.
- He also worked in Vienna, Belgrade, and in Prague on the Prague Castle.
- He served as an influence on the avant-garde Czech Cubism.
Primoz Trubar & The First Book of Slovenia
A Protestant reformer who had the first book of Slovenia printed in 1551 and also authored it in the Slovene language: the Abecedarium along with the Catechismus. This book is an eight-leaf booklet for helping people learn the alphabet.
France Preseren & His Poem Zdravljica
- A 19th century romantic Slovene poet who inspired virtually all later Slovene literature and has been acknowledged as the greatest Slovene classical author.
- His poem "Zdravljica" was inspired by the French ideals of liberty, equality, & fraternity.
- Slovenes living in the Hapsburg Empire at the time of the poem, interpreted it as a political promotion of a unified Slovenia.
- In the late 1980s, the poem was adopted as Slovenia's national anthem.
When did Slovenia join the EU?
May 1st, 2004
When did Slovenia adopt the Euro?
January 1st, 2007 --> Making it the first of the new countries that joined the EU to officially adopt the Euro.
Is Slovenia a member of the Schengen Zone?
Yes, it became a member on December 21st, 2007.
Notes from Higher Education in Slovenia Presentation
- There are 39 universities in Slovenia and 4 of them are major ones being University of Ljubljana, Maribor, Primorska, and Nova Gorcia
- Management & Business are the 2 most popular majors
- Slovenia has been part of the Bologna Process since signing in 1999 w/ the aims of standardizing the quality of education throughout Europe --> encourages the mobility of students in participating countries to study outside of their home country
- The academic year begins in October and lasts till September of the following year
- Slovenia is part of the European Higher Education Act which means that public education for all undergrad students is free if they are an EU citizen
- Slovenia also offers deals for students (e.g., discounts at restaurants and on transportation).
Notes from Ljubljana the Green City Presentation
- Ljubljana has three main design changes that aid in it being a green city:
1. Zero-Waste goal --> less than 5% of waste in Ljubljana goes to landfills
2. Traffic Free --> Ljubljana's 2012 Sustainable Mobility Plan increased pedestrian only surfaces by 620%
3. Sustainable Tourism Initiative --> Ljubljana is in the Green Scheme certification program which allows for businesses and tourism to operate in a more eco-conscious manner
- Ljubljana received the green capital award in 2016 for its efforts toward higher sustainability
- Ljubljana has lots of protected green space from marshes to parks
- EVs are used as public transport throughout the city (e.g., the Kavalirs)
