PRILOZI CONTRIBUTIONS - Institut za istoriju Sarajevo

Iljas Hadžibegović, Socijalna struktura Slovenaca u BiH od sredine XIX stoljeća do 1991. godine
Prilozi, 36, Sarajevo, 2007, str. 135-178.
178
SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF SLOVENIANS IN BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA FROM MID-19 th CENTURY UNTIL 1991
Iljas Hadžibegović
Summary
The study of the social and other structures of Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina
from mid-19 th century until the last decade of the 20 th century offers several
crucial indicators that may be considered as relevant for their presence in this part
of the world:
1. What linked them to this country were geographic and linguistic similarities,
as well as the historical destiny they shared living in one state.
2. Generally speaking, Slovenians were better educated and qualified than the
citizens of BiH on average, with the exception of the major towns: Sarajevo, Banja
Luka, Mostar and Tuzla, where they mainly resided. In the last population census,
they were not registered in 19 poorly developed municipalities that were stuck
between the agrarian and industrial stage of development. In other 52 municipalities,
there were between one and five Slovenians living, while in the remaining 24 municipalities
there were more than five Slovenians, while about 93% of all the BiH Slovenians
lived in the most developed five towns.
3. Most of the BiH Slovenians lived in Sarajevo, as the capital and the most important
centre of economic, educational, cultural, scientific and sport life, which,
thanks to these achievements, resembled most the level of development they left behind
in their homeland.
4. In the last census held in 1991, Slovenians were registered in 43 occupations,
among which most numerous were those related to technical and technological professions,
education (ranging from primary to university education), and administration.
They were also military and financial experts and skilled artisans – mainly in
the crafts related to electricity, electronics and IT.
5. The Slovenians in Bosnia and Herzegovina always opted for those branches
of economic activity and for those occupations that were linked with progress.
In these areas, the mark they left on BiH was recognisable – be it the well known
“Kranj Axe” or Alpine mountain huts typical on Mt. Pohorje, dating back to the 19 th
century and as late as to the Winter Olympic Games that were held in Sarajevo in
1984.