Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja

Inštitut za narodnostna vprašanja 

The Institute for Ethnic Studies (IES) is the successor to the Minority Institute, which was one of the first research institutions of its kind in the world, operating in Ljubljana between 1925 and 1941 and focusing mainly on the status of Slovenes in neighboring countries and the German and Hungarian minorities in Slovenia. When Slovenian territory was occupied, the Institute was “liquidated lest its materials should fall into the hands of occupiers.” However, as early as January 1944, the Scientific Institute was founded on the liberated territory within the Executive Committee of the Liberation Front, which was the only institution of its kind in occupied Europe to continue the work of the Minority Institute. Its department for border issues was transformed into the Institute for Ethnic Studies in 1948. From 1948 to 1956, the Institute worked within the framework of the University of Ljubljana, while since then it has been an independent scientific institution. In 1992, the IES became one of the first public research institutions in Slovenia. The IES is the oldest research institute for minority and ethnic studies in Europe and traditionally deals with the following topics: ethnicity, ethnic relations and conflicts, nationalism, borders; the Slovenian national question; national minorities, especially the position and status of national and ethnic minorities in Slovenia and of Slovenian ethnic communities in Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and other successor states of the former Yugoslavia; the position and status of immigrants, migration and integration policies in Slovenia; international regulation and protection of human rights, especially the rights of national minorities; case studies and comparative studies of ethnicity in Europe and worldwide; the work in the fields of minority studies, ethnic studies and human rights. In this context, particular attention has been paid to the participation of ethnic minorities in political decision-making processes - especially in South Eastern Europe, but also worldwide. As part of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the International Center for Interethnic Relations and Minorities in South Eastern Europe was established at the IES in 2001.