New Challenges for Slovenian and Croatian Diasporic Communities

The aim of the bilateral project is to examine the impact of cultural production of Slovenian and Croatian diasporic communities on the cultural identity of their members, new ways of communication and cooperation within and between these communities, and new ways in which they promote their cultural achievements in the mainstream society. The Slovenian State (the Office for Slovenians Abroad, the Council for Slovenians in the Neighbor Countries, the Council for Slovenians Abroad) treats Slovenians in Croatia partly as emigrants and partly as members of traditional Slovenian transborder minority. Some of the Slovenian cultural societies in Croatia resent this dual treatment. We wish to check out whether this duality is well-grounded and functional. We also wish to explore how the minority status of Slovenians in Croatia is implemented in their cultural and society life and, on the other hand, what difficulties have been reported concerning their status – especially in the field of culture – by the Croatian societies in Slovenia.