Review article
The Process of Integration of Croatian Immigrants into Slovenia
Marina PERIĆ
Abstract
Based on available documentation and research of Croats in
Slovenia it has been concluded that there is a high degree of integration of Croatian immigrants within Slovenian society,
but a very weak integration in their own immigrant group.
Rapid integration of Croatian immigrants within Slovene
society has been enhanced by a number of factors:
heterogeneous emigration, motives of permanent stay,
cultural and religious similarity between the two countries,
closeness of territory. A low degree of integration within their
own immigrant group is the result of a long-term process. In
the period when the two Republics gained independence the
Croatian immigrants developed the need for social gathering
and practising ethnic identity. From the period of migration
up to the nineties Croatian immigrants did not feel the need
for ethnic gathering although there existed several Croatian
associations. Croats, together with the other peoples of
former Yugoslavia in Slovenia, belong to the migrant
population. Their minority status has not been recognised,
causing them to be deprived of many rights and privileges
secured by law for minorities. One of the consequences is
that most Croatian immigrants have assimilated into their
new environment, and with regard to the previous census
most have declared themselves as Slovene citizens. Although
there are several Croatian emigrant associations in Slovenia,
they include a small number of third and fourth-generation
members. The latter are more oriented towards Slovene
culture. They seldom practise ethnic identity in the family,
and there is also the threat of forgetting their mother tongue.
All this is the result of a larger number of mixed marriages,
as well as of the absence of Croatian language teaching in
Slovene schools.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
17975
URI
Publication date:
31.10.2005.
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