Research

The Faculty of Slovene and International Studies of the New University develops scientific research activity within the Institute of Slovene Studies. The Institute of Slovene Studies is entered in the register of research organizations at the Public Agency for Research of the Republic of Slovenia (ARRS). In accordance with the membership of the Faculty in the New University, the Institute also cooperates with the Scientific Research Centre of the New University.

The aim of the research work of the Institute of Slovene Studies is, in particular, to take care of the fundamental and applied development of the scientific fields of the Slovene studies. In recent years, the activities of the institute have been focused on the successful acquisition and implementation of the basic ARRS project, more intensive cooperation between the institute and the faculty, and the publication of the achieved results in the form of scientific articles and books.

In the academic year 2022/23, the Institute has three (3) researchers registered with the ARRS, who work in the field of Slovene studies and represent the interdisciplinary core of the scientific research work of the Institute:

• dr. Dejan Valentinčič, no. 36485, field of activity: law, national issue.
• dr. Ignacija Fridl Jarc, no. 22236, field of activity: philosophy.
• dr. Polona Tratnik, no. 29337, field of activity: philosophy.
• dr. Manca Erzetič, no. 37533, field of activity: philosophy, interdisciplinary research.

Basic information about the Institute of Slovene Studies:

• Registration number: 3270-001 – from ARRS records
• Research organization: Nova University, Faculty of Slovenian and International Studies
• Research group – research activity: 5:00 a.m. Social studies, 6:00 a.m. Humanities
• Head of the research group: Dr. Dejan Valentinčič
• ARRS projects: A culture of remembering the building blocks of the Slovenian nation and country

Slovenian Intellectual History in the Light of Contemporary Theories of Religion: From the Separation of Spirits and Cultural Struggle to the Communist Revolution – Fundamental Research Project ARRS.

Project Duration: October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2024.

Regarding the temporal framework of the project, the emphasis will be primarily on the period from the second half of the 19th century, specifically from the “Mahnič separation” of spirits to the beginning of the communist revolution during World War II. This doesn’t mean that our research won’t extend beyond this timeframe, both towards preceding eras and those that came after. In fact, it is not possible to exclude those. However, the main focus is on this particular period. In this project, we will apply contemporary theories of religion, particularly those relevant to secularization, modernization, violence, understanding culture, cultural struggle, and ideological confrontation. Among others, this includes mentioning Charles Taylor, René Girard, Jan Assmann, as well as Russian philosophical and theological thinkers. An important segment of our research will address violence and cultural struggle.

The next inevitable themes are the questions of truth and authority (revelation and the Church), encompassing their phenomenological, hermeneutical, and ideological or social aspects (applying the first two to the latter two). This problem is closely connected to the issue of nihilism, which was introduced to Slovenian territory through freethinking that infiltrated from abroad. From the perspective of nihilism, we will shed light on the crisis of Slovenian freethinking and communism, as well as the crisis of traditional Catholicism, which increasingly demanded new answers in line with the signs of the times. An important part of our project will explore the clash between freethinking and traditional or radical Catholicism.

The next research line will illuminate the dynamics of nation formation, which we schematically capture with the triad of “people-nation-nation.” We will shed light on the frictions caused by the emergence of the Slovenian nation and the ideology of “ljudskost” (peoplehood) utilized by both the Catholic and communist sides. In this way, we will attempt to illuminate the ideological confrontation introduced to Slovenian territory by freethinking, modernization, and secularization. The consequence of these factors was the separation of spirits. The ideological confrontation culminated during World War II with the communist revolution and the conflict between Catholics and communists.

Thus, the project will have two levels, which we will try to organically connect: a more general theoretical level and the specific Slovenian “story,” the exploration of which will provide empirical content to the project. In doing so, we will achieve two things: firstly, through the application of these theories, we will verify established theories of religion and culture, and secondly, we will shed light on Slovenian intellectual history in a manner that has not been systematically done before in an interdisciplinary and coordinated research project.

We will also explore the topic comparatively within a broader framework (Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, etc.). Therefore, we will involve competent researchers from these countries. The project is a novelty on a global scale, as no one has undertaken a similar systematic approach yet. The project is important from the perspective of national and European interests since understanding ideological conflicts in the past is crucial for comprehending such tensions and conflicts in the present and, ultimately, for their resolution. The project is significant not only for the fields of theology, religious studies, history, and cultural studies but also for other areas of the humanities and social sciences. The call for proposals emphasizes cultural heritage and European significance, and this project undoubtedly encompasses both dimensions.

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Project Cornerstones of Slovene statehood: Encyclopedia of Slovenia’s independence and statehood

TYPE OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:

Research and development, national ARRS project.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

In the last 20 years, the phenomenon of ethnicity, modern nation, nationalism and ethnic identity has been accelerated in the field of social sciences and humanities. Despite the fact that Slovene historians follow research trends, there has still been no systematic research on ethnicity and the development of the nation / state in Slovenia. Also, theoretical findings in the field of ethnic studies and nationalism are not sufficiently reflected in the syntheses of the history of Slovenes. The originality of the project lies in the fact that with the help of complex analysis and interdisciplinary methodological starting points related to humanities and social sciences we will (re) interpret the corpus of national memory as shown in national history texts, literature, folk literature, and media that represent the foundations of national identity. For this purpose, a special Encyclopaedia of Slovenia’s independence and statehood will be produced.

The purpose of the proposed project is to study the process of formation of the Slovene state and nation-building with emphasis on the concluding phase of this process, when in the 80s and 90s of the 20th century Slovenes managed to form their own country in the long-term process. The formation of a modern nation can be traced within the framework of the modern bourgeois movement, which, similarly to Europe, has been developing since the 18th century. It took shape as a political, economic and cultural movement.

Research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of various aspects (historical, cultural, anthropological, and legal) of the formation of Slovene ethnic and national identity. The current findings in this area need to be highlighted and (re)interpreted with modern theoretical and methodological approaches that address the formation of ethnic identities and nation states, so called nation building process. Being aware that history, national identity and culture are formed retrogradely through the interpretation of the subject located in modernity, we proceed from the hypothesis that symbols, myths, images, memories, and communications are decisive for shaping the identity of both communities and individuals. Therefore, special attention will be paid to exploring their representation and construction in terms of their integrative role in connecting communities and constructing “historical truth”, especially on examples of cultural products (art, literature, historiography, popular culture, media, advertising, etc.).

Due to the heterogeneity of culture, language and society, the Slovene area in the 19th and 20th centuries was often a space of conflicting confrontations between ethnic groups living here, so in the research we will pay special attention to the relationship between national identity and “other” in terms of relationships that shape, consolidate, challenge or are in any way essential for the consolidation of identity, especially national one. We will build on the hypothesis that Slovene ethnicity, due to historical-political and socio-economic phenomena, was built not only essentially, but also in relations to the “other”.

Special attention will be paid to the myth of rebellion, which manifests itself as a dispute over tradition and the hitherto established notion of national identity, but plays a central role in Slovene national historiography and collective memory in the process of shaping Slovene national consciousness and statehood.

Through thematic analysis, we will identify representations of historical myths that play a key role in shaping the identity of the community (the myth of sui generis, ante murales, antiquity, rebellion and the myth of common suffering) and study them with a comparative interdisciplinary approach through the most important milestones of Slovene collective memory which all have a rebellious character at the same time.

The originality of the project is in the fact that with the help of complex analysis and interdisciplinary methodological starting points related to humanities and social sciences, we will critically (re)interpret the corpus of Slovene national cultural memory, as shown in national history texts, literature, folk literature, art, rituals, myths, media, etc., and thus explore the basic characteristics of Slovene national cultural memory in the five selected historical turning point transitional periods in the last quarter of the millennium, which form the corpus on which the construction of the Slovene nation and the state of Slovenia is based.

The main goal of the research project is the preparation of original research, terminology and entries for the Encyclopaedia of Slovenia’s self-determination and independence.

The National Consortium of Partners consists of the following organizations: University of Maribor; Faculty of Arts; New University, the European Faculty of Law; New University, the Faculty of Slovene and International Studies; the Institute for Research, Development and Strategies of Society, Culture and the Environment, Koper; Nova Revija Institute, Department of Humanities, Ljubljana.

On February 14, 2023, the New university received recognition from the European Commission for compliance of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

At the same time, New University also obtained permission to use the “HR Excellence in Research” logo, which visually symbolizes these efforts.

The HR Excellence in Research award publicly recognizes research institutions that have made progress in aligning their HR policy with the principles defined in the “Charter and Code.” Institutions that have been granted the right to use the logo are underlining their commitment to implementing fair and transparent recruitment and evaluation processes for researchers.

The New university thereby contributes to the efforts of the European Commission in the creation of a common research area, a single labor market for researchers, mobility within it, the attractiveness of the careers that this profession enables, more attractive working conditions, the development of various skills and abilities of researchers, and the most stable social security.

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