The Historical Basis for Civil–Military Relations in Slovenia

Abstract

Slovenian society was historically very ambivalent towards the military. In former Yugoslavia (1945–1991) many people understood the military as the socialising agent, the organisation that would help their sons to grow up, and as provider of social assistance in cases of natural catastrophes. The role of defence of the homeland was perceived as legitimate task of the military, but the expectation of foreign military threat was gradually decreasing, especially in 1980s. The prioritisation of national security function of the military has been changed into expectations of more civilianised and liberal armed forces. The Yugoslav policy of active participation in non-alignment movement helped people to believe that they live in a neutral country without foreign enemies. The perception of low military threat in public and on the other side very tough and enemies-searching former Yugoslav military elites caused tensions between Slovenian civil society and Yugoslav military elites. The associations of civil society asked for recognition of conscientious objection, which was not permitted in former Yugoslav military until mid-eighties. Even then, the status of conscientious objectors was given to religious believers only, and they had to serve the military duty within the military, without arms. The citizens’ movements asked for use of mother tongue for conscripts in the army, while the military pushed forward one of the Yugoslav official languages, the Serbian one. In 1991, Slovenian decision to gain independence, caused an armed conflict with former Yugoslav army in June–July 1991, and in 1992, Slovenia was a internationally recognised sovereign state.

Citation

Jelušič, L. and Garb, M. (2007), "The Historical Basis for Civil–Military Relations in Slovenia", Caforio, G. (Ed.) Cultural Differences between the Military and Parent Society in Democratic Countries (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 4), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 287-291. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-8323(07)04018-0