The Slovenes
In the Austrian district of Carinthia there are about 14,000 Slovenes. Another 80,000 live in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.
Slavic groups have lived in Carinthia and Northeastern Italy since the Migration Period in the 6th century. 19th century nationalism led to the assimilation of Slovenes in both Austria and Italy. Italian Fascism in particularly sought to Italianize the Slovene minority through laws that prohibited the use of the Slovene language and customs. Many Slovenes joined anti-fascist resistance movements. At the end of the First World War, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs occupied the Slovene areas of Austria. In the Carinthian Referendum of 1920, the majority voted, however, for Southern Carinthia to remain with Austria.
The provinces of Trieste and Gorizia became part of Italy in 1920. During the Second World War, many of the resident Slovenes supported the Yugoslav Partisan Movement as well as the annexation of the provinces to Yugoslavia.
Only in the postwar period, minority languages and cultures received adequate legal protection. Current minority rights include bilingual place signs, the use of Slovene in public and institutional settings, education in the minority language, as well as the establishment of minority associations. The implementation of these rights does, however, vary considerably and often depends on the goodwill of local or provincial administrations.
Click here for information about the Ladins and the Friulians.
