Care for Diasporic Communities: Te Case of a Bilateral Agreement between Slovenia and

Janja Žitnik Serafn

Introduction and Herzegovina and the languages of Cultural production of immigrants or Bosnia and Herzegovina in Slovenia were members of ethnic, national or language “brotherly” languages. Tey obtained the minorities is one of the basic elements in status of foreign languages only after the the formation and maintenance of their disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, cultural identity. At the same time, their when their speakers found themselves in cultural production is a bridge between an entirely new position. cultures, a path to intercultural exchange In my paper I wish to explore organi- and a means of cultural afrmation of a zational patterns used by the in minority community in its mother coun- Slovenia compared to those used by the try as well as in the country of its residence. Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Te impact of cultural production of the the cultural production of the former Slovenian community in Bosnia and Her- and the latter in the framework of their zegovina and of the Bosniak community ethnic cultural societies and associations, in Slovenia on the cultural identity of their and their access to various fnancial re- members, the cooperation between these sources including those necessary for communities, and the ways in which they (co-)organising lessons or courses of their promote their cultural achievements in mother tongues. I am also interested in both countries, had not been subjects of how the minority status of the Slovenians systematic research until recently.1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina is refected in In Slovenia and in Bosnia and Herze- their cultural life and, on the other hand, govina, only some broader research pro- how the absence of the minority status jects in the feld of ethnic and migration shows in the cultural life of the Bosniaks studies have touched upon these topics. in Slovenia. Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Te paper is based on extensive feld- coexisted in a federative state that prac- work carried out under my supervision ticed the policy of systematic intercultural between 2012 and 2017: a survey carried exchange. Slovenian language in Bosnia out among the Slovenian cultural societies 138 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SMI Survey venians in Croatia and in Serbia3 – the 2012); interviews with teachers of the Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina Slovenian language and culture in Bosnia have obtained the status of a national and Herzegovina; and interviews with minority whereas members of the nations representatives of both minorities (i.e. from these countries in Slovenia are still representatives of their cultural societies striving for the acknowledgement of such and associations) in Slovenia and in Bosnia status. Nevertheless, a mutual promise to and Herzegovina respectively.2 Tis empir- support the preservation of the languages ical research was a longitudinal upgrade and cultures of the national minorities of a previous feldwork under the same is a part of all the bilateral agreements supervision which started in 2005 with a between Slovenia and other successor survey on the position of immigrants and states of the former Yugoslavia relating members of the so-called “new minorities” to science, culture and education (Komac in Slovenia, their ofspring, and their 2014: 120). cultural production. Two of my interviews On February 1, 2011, the National were especially signifcant for this paper: Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia with the Secretary and Projects Leader passed the Declaration of the Republic of of the Bosniak Association of Slovenia, Slovenia on the Positon of the National Admir Baltić (Žitnik Serafn 2014b), and Communities of Members of the Nations with the Chair of the Association of Slove- of the Former Socialist Federal Republic nian Societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of Yugoslavia in the Republic of Slovenia Darko Mijatović (Žitnik Serafn 2014c). (Pravno-informacijski sistem 2011). Tree For the purpose of this publication, the months later, a government committee paper has been additionally upgraded, on the questions of the national commu- using the results of a most recent target nities from the former Socialist Federal research project titled “Sodobne strategije Republic of Yugoslavia was established slovenskih izseljencev za ohranjanje et- on the basis of the Declaration. Only a nične identitete” (Contemporary strategies year later, the new government led by of Slovenian emigrants for the preservation the Prime Minister Janez Janša abolished of ethnic identity, 2016–2018), published this committee along with a number of in its Final Report (Žitnik Serafn, Kalc, others. Te Bosniaks and members of Mlekuž, Vižintin 2018). other Yugoslav nations in Slovenia – joined In the so-called “Dayton Constitution”, within the Association of the Associations Bosnia and Herzegovina established the of Cultural Societies of the Nations of the “domination of three constitutive nations” Former Yugoslavia in Slovenia4 – have (Kržišnik-Bukić 2014: 135), and placed been pleading their right to attain the the Slovenians in the ethnic category status of national minorities since 2003, of “others”. Later on, in the Law on the when the Association was established. Protection of the Rights of the Minorities in Te president of the Association, Ilija the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dimitrievski argues that these commu- (Zakon … 2003), the Slovenians were nities cannot consent to their status of explicitly named as a national minority. ‘newcomers’ as they are in fact a product Tis means that – similarly as the Slo- of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Te JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 139 constitutional acknowledgement of the ertheless, some highly esteemed experts national minority status, Dimitrievski in minority issues speak in favour of it, continues, would be prerequisite for the among them the European Commis- preparation of further legislation on the sioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks assertion of their special collective rights in (quoted in Kržišnik-Bukić 2014: 10–11), terms of the preservation of their languages and the Head of the Institute for the and cultures, the access to public media, Constitutional Law in Ljubljana, Ciril political participation, and the dignity Ribičič (2014: 199). of these groups of Slovenian citizens. Today, he says, there are almost a hundred A Statistical Comparison between cultural societies in Slovenia contributing the Two Minorities to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the nations of the former Yugoslavia Te Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dimitrievski 2014: 17–19). Te number of the Slovenians in Bosnia Members of Slovenian academic circles and Herzegovina has been constantly have diferent views on the possible change decreasing since 1961 (Statistički godišnjak/ of the Slovenian Constitution aimed at ljetopis Federacije BiH=Statistical Yearbook the recognition of the national minority 2013: 69). A comparison between the status for these communities.5 Some number of the ethnically declared Slove- authors support such recognition; others nians in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the are more or less sceptical about it or even number of the members of the Slovenian ex plicit ly oppose the idea. Te change of societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina shows the Constitution seems unnecessary even that there are actually more Slovenians to some members of these minorities or in Bosnia and Herzegovina than those their descendants, for example the na- specifed as such in the census. On the tionally awarded writer and flm director, other hand, a three times larger number Goran Vojnović (his view is quoted in of the members of the Slovenian societies Milharčič Hladnik 2014: 90–91). Nev- in Bosnia and Herzegovina indicates that

Table 1: Ethnically declared Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the membership of the Slovenian societies

Number of the ethnically Number of the members of the declared Slovenians in Bosnia Slovenian societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2011–2013* and Herzegovina, 2012** BOSNIA AND 1,100 3,083 HERZEGOVINA Te Federation 500 1,376 of B&H Te Republic 600 1,707 of Srpska * Source: Josipovič 2014: 217; ** Source: SMI Survey 2012. 140 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018 Table 2: Slovenians in other successor states of the former Yugoslavia and the membership of Slovenian ethnic societies in these countries

Number of the Slovenians, Number of the members of the State the latest census, 2011–2013* Slovenian cultural societies, 2012** Croatia 10,517 6,047 Serbia 4,033 4,302 Kosovo 500 / Montenegro 354 66 Macedonia 300 301 * Source: Josipovič 2014: 217; ** Source: SMI Survey 2012. these societies also accept members of 2). Tis unique case of the large number other nations (table 1), which was con- of the members of the Slovenian cultural frmed by the 2012 SMI Survey results. societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be If we compare the data from table 1 explained by the fact that in this country with the data from table 2, it becomes the interest in the study or employment clear that such a distinct disproportion in Slovenia is still relatively larger than in between the census numbers relating to other countries of the region, and that a the members of the Slovenian minority certifcate confrming one’s active mem- and the number of the members of the bership in a Slovenian cultural society Slovenian ethnic societies (in favour of the is taken into account in the Slovenian latter) is – if we consider only the so-called naturalisation process. Yugoslav region – characteristic only of Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Te Bosniaks in Slovenia Te number of the members of the Slo- Te number of the persons whose frst venian societies in other countries of this residence was in other republics/states region exceeds the census number of the of the Yugoslav region that had moved Slovenians living there only in Serbia and to Slovenia by 2001 shows that most of Macedonia (besides Bosnia and Herzego- them came from Bosnia and Herzegovina vina), and in both the diference between (67,670 out of 150,763 persons, table 3). those numbers is almost negligible (table I am using the data from the last classical

Table 3: Residents of Slovenia from Bosnia and Herzegovina (by the year of immigration)*

Before 1991– Altogether 1941–52 1953–60 1961–70 1971–80 1981–90 1940 2001 by 2001 138 1,058 2,227 7,842 26,227 17,517 12,661 67,670 * Calculated on the basis of the data from: “Popis 2002” (Population Census 2002), Statistical Ofce of the Republic of Slovenia, accessed March 10, 2018, www.stat.si/popis2002. JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 141

Slovenian population census in 2002, the problem of three diferent names for in which ethnicity, mother tongue and Slovenian Bosniaks can be explained with religion were systematically registered for the frequent change of the name used for the last time in that country. this ethnic group in Slovenian population Among those who migrated to Slovenia censuses: from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest groups consisted of the Bosniaks (13,876 Te 2002 Slovenian population cen- persons), the Muslims (as an ethnic op- sus noted 21,542 Bosniaks, 10,467 tion: 6,332 persons), the Bosnians (5,869 Muslims [as an ethnic option], and persons), the (7,120 persons), the 8,062 Bosnians. A closer look at (15,612 persons), and the unknown some additional characteristics of nationality or those who did not wish to these three groups shows that we answer (14,639 persons) (Popis 2002 / are dealing with very similar groups Population Census 2002). If we add to of population who share, to a great those who declared themselves as Bosniaks extent, their Bosnian-Herzegovinian in the 2002 census (21,542 members of origin, the Bosnian language as their the frst and the second generation) at least mother tongue, and the Islam as their some of those who ethnically declared prevailing religion. On the basis of themselves as Muslims or Bosnians – these common characteristics it can something that Admir Baltić argues as be concluded that in the case of these justifed, we get a group of almost 40,000 three supposedly diferent ethnic persons (immigrants and their descend- groups we are actually dealing with ants) with many common characteristics one nation; the nation that since (tables 4–5). 1993 has been ofcially called the Admir Baltić, the Secretary of the Bos- Bosniaks, before that it was called the niak Association of Slovenia, believes that Muslims, and on the informal every-

Table 4: Ethnically declared Muslims in Slovenia, population censuses 1953–2002*

1953 Census 1961 Census 1971 Census 1981 Census 1991 Census 2002 Census 1,617 465 3,197 13,339 26,577 10,467 * Tere were no options called Bosniaks or Bosnians before the 2002 census. Source: “Popis 2002” (Population Census 2002).

Table 5: Bosniaks, Muslims and Bosnians in Slovenia, population census, 2002

Muslims Bosnians Bosniaks Altogether (ethnic option) (regional option) 21,542 10,467 8,062 40,071 142 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018

day level – especially in Slovenia – it Table 6: Slovenian population census, 2002: was called the Bosnians. Tis triple religion and mother tongue naming used in diferent censuses Islamic 47,488 confrms that the Bosniak national religion consciousness is still developing and no answer 307,973 that it has not yet been stabilised in Bosnian 31,499 mother tongue its full potential. [...] Danilo Dolenc, unknown 52,316 a Slovenian demographer working on statistical data based on population censuses, observes that no other na- tion has been faced with so many Slovenia is needed. According to Baltić (in changes of its name as the Bosniaks a letter to the author, December 2, 2014), (Baltić 2009: 25–26). the number of the members who regularly pay their membership fee, together with Te assumption on the triple naming their family members, is between 3,000 of members of the same group sharing and 4,000. the Bosnian-Herzegovinian origin, the Bosnian mother tongue, and most of A quantitative comparison them also the Islamic religion, is partly Tere are 1,100 declared Slovenians in confrmed by the Slovenian census data on Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there are ap- the persons who immigrated to Slovenia proximately 3,000 members of Slovenian from Bosnia and Herzegovina (table 3) ethnic cultural societies in that country and the last classical Slovenian population (table 1). On the other hand, there are census data (2002) on religion and mother 21,542 Bosniaks in Slovenia according tongue (table 6). Tere are, of course, to the last classical population census, i. members of other nations among the e. approximately twenty times more than Islamic believers in Slovenia. But – as Špela the former, while only between 3,000 Kalčić (2006) observes – 99 percent of and 4,000 of them are members of the the members of the Islamic Community Bosniak cultural societies in Slovenia – the of Slovenia originate from the former same number as in the case of the much Yugoslavia, and 90 percent of these from smaller Slovenian minority in Bosnia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even the refugee Herzegovina. Most Slovenian Bosniaks are “corridor” through Slovenia in 2015 did members of the Islamic Community of not essentially change this proportion. Slovenia rather than the Bosniak cultural Nevertheless, the large number of those societies or the Bosniak Association of who in the 2002 Slovenian census refused Slovenia. When Ahmed Pašić, head of the to state their religion is also quite telling Islamic community of the city of Jesenice (307,973 persons, table 6). was asked about how many Muslims there If we want to compare the shares of the were in Slovenia, he replied: “Ofcially, members of both minorities that are also according to the census: 47,500; unof- members of their ethnic cultural societies, cially: around 60,000.” (Pašić in Nežmah an approximate estimation of the number 2004) Baltić explains the reasons for such of the members of the Bosniak societies in an obvious disproportion between the JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 143 membership of the Islamic Community and 1994, the rest around 2003; only of Slovenia and the membership of the Triglav, the largest Slovenian society in Bosniak cultural societies in Slovenia: the Republic of Srpska was registered between both waves, in 1998. Two almost Te Islamic Community comprises identical waves are also characteristic of the the largest number of the Bosniaks, establishment of the Bosniak societies in which can be explained by the fact Slovenia: the frst ones were formed at the that the Islamic religion was a key time of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina factor of distinction from the neigh- (1992–1995), the rest of them in the new bours belonging to the Orthodox or millennium. Te role and the purpose of Catholic religion also in Bosnia and the former and the latter were practically Herzegovina. [...] Tus, the Bosniaks the same: the early societies were formed formed their national consciousness to organize aid in war conditions, to help based on the Islamic tradition with with the evacuation of a number of fam- a certain delay; yet, the religious be- ilies from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and longing to the Islam is not a require- to take care of the refugees in Slovenia. ment for being declared as a Bosniak After the war, the mission soon changed as there are numerous agnostics and from humanitarian engagement to the atheists who also consider themselves preservation of language and ethnic cul- Bosniaks (Baltić in Žitnik Serafn tural traditions. 2014b: 1). By March 2003, there were 16 regis- tered societies established by the Muslims In spite of these noticeable quantitative in Slovenia (Klopčič, Komac and Kržišnik- diferences between the two minorities, Bukić 2003: 207–208); in the meantime, many similarities can be observed in their some of them have changed their names organizational patterns and cultural activ- adding the attribute Bosniak – e.g. the ities. In the following sections I will try cultural society in Jesenice called Biser. to look into the cultural situation of both Tree from fve founding societies of minorities in the light of their organization the Bosniak Association of Slovenia no and cultural production. longer exist but many new ones have been formed since. Between 2005 and 2013, Comparison between the Organ- new Bosniak cultural societies appeared izational Patterns and Cultural- in the cities of Velenje, Ljubljana, Koper Artistic Activities of the Two and Maribor (Baltić in Žitnik Serafn Minorities 2014b: 5). Tere is though one signifcant diference between the Slovenian and Parallels Bosniak ethnic societies: as opposed to Te frst and the most obvious similarity is the Bosniak cultural societies in Slovenia, in the time of the formation of the present some of the present Slovenian societies in cultural societies. Te existing Slovenian Bosnia and Herzegovina, e.g. the Sarajevo societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina were Cankar and the Banja Luka Triglav, have established in two waves: the frst six a really long tradition of predecessors.6 of them were founded between 1992 An important parallel can also be found 144 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018 in the beginnings of the associating of society exists in the country outside the the societies. Te Bosniak Association of association. Both associations have very Slovenia was registered in 1997, but its similar roles and more or less the same prehistory reaches back to the times of co- number of annual projects. operation and association of early Bosniak Both ethnic societies, Slovenian and societies in the Gorenjska region and in Bosniak, are organized according to the central Slovenia. Only one year after the national legislation: (almost) all have their Bosniak societies in Slovenia joined into president, secretary, treasurer, steering/ the Bosniak Association, Slovenian societies executive committee, board of trustees, in Bosnia and Herzegovina joined into the assembly and court of honour. Teir fur- Coordinating Committee of the Slovenian ther division into very similar sections in organizations (1998), a forerunner of the both countries also constitutes parallel present Association of Slovenian Societies organizational patterns. Te forms and in Bosnia and Herzegovina “Evropa zdaj” ways in which they maintain their cultural founded in 2010. Both associations, the traditions and mother tongue are virtually Bosniak and the Slovenian one, include identical: participation in the organization the same number of member societies: of language classes, society libraries, cele- nine each. In both cases only one other bration of national holidays, celebration

Picture 1: Te Bulletin of the ‘Triglav’ Slovenian Society, Banja Luka, B&H, and Zora Cankarjeva, annual publication of the ‘Cankar’ Slovenian Society, Sarajevo, B&H JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 145 of some religious holidays, ethno and folk music, traditional dances cultivated by folklore groups, national costumes, national dishes and traditional handcraft. Other activities are also similar in both minorities: both associations of societies have their own website which is occasionally inactive because they lack a qualifed webmaster. Due to the same reason, there are only a few individual societies that have got their own home page with a link to their online periodical. As opposed to most Slovenian societies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the majority Picture 2: Te young folklore group of the of the Bosniak societies in Slovenia have ‘Biser’ Bosniak Cultural Society in Jesenice, their own Facebook profles because they Slovenia fnd it easier this way to keep in touch with their members. Only the largest societies on both sides publish their own point of the Slovenian societies in Bosnia newsletter, almanac or similar. Tese are and Herzegovina is their choruses, and usually the same societies that have got the strong point of the Bosniak societies some experience with other publishing as in Slovenia is their folklore groups. Te well. All the societies have regular society latter also have more drama groups than meetings and picnics. Larger societies the former. Visual arts are more or less also organize various trips, outings or regularly performed in three Bosniak visits of their mother country while the societies and in one Slovenian society smaller societies are invited to join them. (in Tuzla), which has its own group of Te same applies to the celebration of painters and which now organizes regular national holidays. About one third of artists’ colonies. the societies in both cases are also active Both, the Bosniak and the Slovenian in organizing sports activities and other ethnic societies usually invite other Bos- competitions. Tree societies on each niak/Slovenian societies to their events. part have choruses, and the share of the Tis means that their cooperation does societies that organize various exhibitions not necessarily take place through the and lectures is also similar on both sides. Association but also directly, between Both minorities have produced some individual societies. Both minorities pay regular radio programmes of their own more and more attention to the inclusion in the past (e.g. Slovenians in Prijedor, of children and youth – in some Bosniak Banja Luka …, Bosniaks in Ljubljana, societies, e.g. in the Jesenice Biser, the Maribor, etc.) or they still produce them. share of the members aged between 5 and On the other hand, there is an impor- 25 was no less than 85 percent (Balagić tant diference between cultural produc- 2009: 101–109). tions of these two minorities: the strong From the perspective of intercultural 146 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018 cooperation and exchange, both com- larly, there is a lot of cultural cooperation munities act – on the local and national between the Slovenian Bosniaks and other levels – in a cohesive way. In spite of the ethnic communities as well as with the relatively small number of its members, Slovenian majority. As a best practice the Slovenian community in Bosnia and of such co operation, Baltić mentions a Herzegovina is among the most active member society of the Bosniak Association minorities there. As the Chair of the As- of Slovenia, namely the Sevdah Society sociation of Slovenian Societies in Bosnia from Ljubljana, which regularly organizes and Herzegovina, Darko Mijatović says events in which they even manage to com- half in jest, the Slovenian Triglav Society bine artists from individual Serbian and in Banja Luka, which shares its ofce Kosovo-Albanian ethnic societies – which, room with 15 other minorities of the to his knowledge, is a rare phenomenon Republic of Srpska, is lucky because other (Baltić in Žitnik Serafn 2014b: 8). minorities are less active, which leaves the Slovenian community more space in the Diferences ofce room (Mijatović in Žitnik Serafn Te frst diference between these two mi- 2014c: 5). Te truth is they cooperate norities can be noticed in their self-defni- with the local artists of other national tion. Baltić says: “My defnition: a Bosniak provenance who are members of either the is anyone who declares himself as Bosniak national majority or of other minorities, and who sees Bosnia and Herzegovina which makes their events much more or Sandžak as his mother country or the interesting for the media (ibid.: 8). Simi- mother country of his ancestors.” (Ibid.:

Picture 3: Te ‘Camerata Slovenica’ chorus of the ‘Cankar’ Slovenian Society, Sarajevo, B&H JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 147

1) Mijatović, on the other hand, says, Herzegovina or the Republic of Srpska “We abide by the Slovenian legislation. where a Slovenian cultural society exists. It matters when our members apply for In Slovenia, on the other hand, classes Slovenian citizenship. Until last year they of Bosnian language are organized in were able to apply as Slovenians if they the framework of various projects only could prove Slovenian roots up to four in Ljubljana, Jesenice and Velenje. Tey generations back. Tis has changed, now have been fnanced from the Swiss Contri- only those can apply as Slovenians whose bution, Norway Grants and EEA Grants. Slovenian roots go two generations back.” As opposed to Slovenian language classes (Mijatović in Žitnik Serafn 2014c: 1) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the question Tis would mean that for the Bosniaks of systematic organization and long-term in Slovenia (and this is also common funding of Bosnian language classes in practice in most population censuses), Slovenia remains unanswered although ethnic afliation is a matter of personal the promises contained in the Agreement choice whereas Slovenian ethnic afliation between the Government of the Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be of Slovenia and the Council of Ministers of proved through one’s genealogy. Due to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the cooperation this change in Slovenian naturalisation in culture, education and science (Spo- legislation, the Slovenian Triglav Society in razum 2000) follow the principles of Banja Luka reduced the number of their reciprocity: “Contractual partners will members from 1,300 to slightly over 700 ofer organizational and fnancial support (ibid.). Tere has been much discussion for supplementary lessons of the mother on the problematic politicizing of ethnic tongue and culture for the children and afliation and membership in Slovenian youth of Slovenian nationality in Bosnia societies abroad, politicizing caused by and Herzegovina and for the children and the fact that – as already mentioned – a youth from Bosnia and Herzegovina in certifcate on one’s active membership in Slovenia.” Emil Vega (2013: 11) writes, a Slovenian cultural society is taken into “Our country, which provides classes account in the process of obtaining Slo- of Slovenian language for Slovenians venian citizenship. But the discussion on abroad, expects reciprocity – the classes this issue between researchers and policy of Bosnian language should be fnanced makers has not been very fruitful so far. by Bosnia and Herzegovina. But Bosnia A second diference is in the organiza- and Herzegovina, which after the war lost tion and funding of minority language one third of its population as they left the classes. Slovenian ministry responsible for country, and facing its own economic education co-fnances Slovenian language and political challenges, is unable to cope classes for young members of Slovenian with this task.” communities abroad, including Slovenians A third diference is in the funding in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most of the of the two minorities’ cultural activities. teachers are sent from Slovenia. Owing As this question is closely related to my to this fact, regular Slovenian language suggestions contained in the conclusion, classes are organized in almost every city I will discuss it later. Tere are of course of either the Federation of Bosnia and many other parallels and diferences be- 148 AEMI JOURNAL 2017–2018 tween these two minorities in the area of in the area of cultural activities of the their organizational schemes and cultural minorities living within their state bor- production, but I was able to present in ders. Cultural projects of ethnic societies this paper only the most signifcant ones. and associations are co-fnanced from various sources. Te Slovenian cultural Conclusion societies in the Federation of Bosnia and Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Herzegovina have partly been co-fnanced share a long history of belonging to the by municipalities and by some cantons, same state: frst to the Austrian-Hungarian for example by the Ministry of Culture empire, then to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia of the Canton of Sarajevo, occasionally and fnally to the Socialist Federative also by the Zenica-Doboj Canton. In the Republic of Yugoslavia. Tus it is not Republic of Srpska they have also been surprising that there are more similarities co-fnanced by the municipalities and by than diferences between their minorities the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of living in the other country. Tis is also the Srpska (SMI Survey 2012). Te Bosniak reason why a Slovenian feels more or less cultural societies in Slovenia have been at home in Bosnia and Hercegovina, just co-fnanced by their local municipalities as does a Bosniak in Slovenia – despite as well as by the Slovenian ministry in the fact that in both cases we are talking charge of culture and/or by the Public about national, religious and language Fund for Cultural Activities of the Re- minorities, which means that they both public of Slovenia. Te Slovenian and the difer from the majority society at least Bosniak ethnic societies are both more in terms of three diferent parameters. or less unsatisfed with the state funding Parallels between the two minorities whereas they feel more comfortable with are evident not only in all areas of their their cooperation at the local level, i. cultural interests but also in the range of e. with the participation of their mu- possibilities for the fulflment of those nici palities, which – besides their public interests. Further parallels can be observed calls for cultural-artistic and publishing in their organizational patterns (ethnic projects, conferences, infrastructure, etc. – cultural societies and their internal organi- often provide free or subsidised use of the zation, associations of these societies, their societies’ ofce rooms or other premises. history …), the diversifcation of their On the other hand, the care for one’s own cultural production and its pronounced minority in the other country has been signifcance for cultural identity of the much more substantial in the case of members of these minorities (Baltić in Slovenia’s care for the Slovenian minority Žitnik Serafn 2014b: 7; Mijatović in in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared Žitnik Serafn 2014c: 7). Both minorities to the care of the latter for the Bosniak nourish their mother tongues through a minority in Slovenia. Te activities of the wide range of their societies’ activities as Slovenian societies in Bosnia and Herze- well as their cooperation in the organi- govina have been considerably co-fnanced zation of language classes and courses. by the Slovenian Government Ofce for Both countries have a similar stand Slovenians Abroad while the Slovenian on the recognition of collective rights ministry in charge of education has been JANJA ŽITNIK SERAFIN 149 co-fnancing Slovenian language classes in efect of these changes upon the Bosniaks Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the other in Slovenia would be favourable, and the hand, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been burden and the benefts of the support unable to ofer this kind of support to the intended for one’s own minority in the Bosniak minority in Slovenia. other country would be a bit more equally Darko Mijatović stresses that the mi- distributed between both countries. It nority status of the Slovenians in Bosnia will probably take a considerable period and Herzegovina ensures them better of time before these goals can be reached. access to Bosnian-Herzegovinian local and But as frst steps in this direction were state funds. If the Slovenian community made many years ago, it is doubtlessly had not been ofcially recognised as a time for some further steps now. minority by Bosnia and Herzegovina, he says, it would be much more difcult References for Slovenian societies and their um- Balagić, Nihad (2009). Kulturno in športno brella organization, the Association to društvo Bošnjakov ‘Biser’ – Jesenice – na apply for public funds in the country of kratko o sedemnajstih letih delovanja. residence (Mijatović in Žitnik Serafn Bošnjaška kultura od prostovoljstva k profe- 2014c: 9). Admir Baltić, on the other sionalizaciji (ed. Admir Baltić). Ljubljana: hand, is more sceptical in the case of the Bošnjaška kulturna zveza Slovenije, 101–109. Bosniak community in Slovenia: “If the Baltić, Admir (2009). Organiziranost boš- (ofcial minority) status should regulate njaške oziroma bosansko-hercegovske skup- this issue, then yes. Te status in itself does nosti na kulturnem področju – primerjava not necessarily generate more favourable Slovenije, Nizozemske in Švedske. Bošnjaška chances for the fnancing of the societies’ kultura od prostovoljstva k profesionalizaciji activities; but from our perspective, this is (ed. Admir Baltić). Ljubljana: Bošnjaška precisely the main purpose of the status.” kulturna zveza Slovenije, 7–86. (Baltić in Žitnik Serafn 2014b: 9) Dimitrievski, Ilija (2014). Ob desetletnici I believe Slovenia should acknowledge delovanja EXYUMAKA in Makedonci the minority status of members of the v Sloveniji. Kdo so narodne manjšine v nations of the former Yugoslavia in Slo- Sloveniji? (ed. 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Žitnik Serafn, Janja (2014c). Intervju z 3. Te Slovenians in Serbia and in Croatia Darkom Mijatovićem, Laktaši, Bosnia are even granted the possibility of being and Herzegovina, October 13, 2014. SMI specifcally represented in the parliament. Archive at ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 4. Slovenian: Zveza zvez kulturnih društev Box Bilateralni projekt z BiH 2014–2015 – narodov in narodnosti nekdanje SFRJ Gradivo, folder Intervjuji. v Sloveniji. Žitnik Serafn, Janja (2015). Recipročnost ali 5. Compare diferent views of the authors simetrija? Primerjava kulturnih interesov in Kržišnik-Bukić (2014a) and Kržišnik- in možnosti dveh manjšin. Dve domovini Bukić and Josipovič (2014). / Two Homelands 42, 113–126. 6. Te history of the Slovenian cultural so- Žitnik Serafn, Janja, Kalc, Aleksej, Mlekuž, cieties in the Yugoslav region is presented Jernej, Vižintin, Marijanca Ajša (2018). in Žitnik Serafn 2014a: 137–179. Sodobne strategije slovenskih izseljencev za ohranjanje etnične identitete: Zaključno poročilo (Contemporary strategies of Slovenian emigrants for the preservation of ethnic identity: Final Report), https://isim. zrc-sazu.si/sites/default/fles/zakljucno_ porocilo_3.pdf (10 March 2018).

Notes 1. Te paper was presented at the Turin AEMI conference in 2015. Parts of a previous Slovenian article by the author (Žitnik Serafn 2015) are also focused on the subject of this paper. 2. Tese interviews were conducted in the framework of the following research projects: “Poklicne migracije Slovencev v prostor nekdanje Jugoslavije: od nase- ljencev do transmigrantov” (Slovenian labour migration to the countries of the former Yugoslavia: From settlers to transmigrants, 2011–2015), “Ohranjanje slovenstva med mladimi člani slovenske skupnosti v jugoslovanskem prostoru” (Preservation of Slovenian identity among young members of Slovenian communi- ties in the area of the former Yugoslavia, 2013), and “Pomen kulturne produkcije Slovencev v BiH in pripadnikov narodov BiH v Sloveniji” (Te signifcance of the cultural production of Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of members of the nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Slovenia, 2014–2015).