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Lance
T. LeLoup
Professor, Department of Political Science
Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
Field: Political Science
Host Institution: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social
Sciences, Slovenia
Dates of Grant: May 24, 2002 - June 6, 2002
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With host, Professor Bogamel Ferfila
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After all the shifts in its geopolitical status over the past
century, Slovenia is now a prosperous, independent country. It
is a bright spot in Central Europe, at the head of the list for
EU accession, and a nation with a stable, functioning democracy.
At the same time, the legacy of its history before and during
the communist era lingers 11 years after independence.
Perhaps the tumultuous history of Slovenia can be summed up by
what one of the students at the university told me about the military
service of his family during the 20th century. His grandfather
was drafted to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire in World
War I. His father was drafted by Italy during World War II. The
student himself had compulsory military service for the army of
Yugoslavia when he was 18 and his son now serves in the army of
Slovenia. The family never moved during this time, living in the
same small village near Portoroz on the coast of the Adriatic.
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With students
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This was my fifth visit to the country and the longest to date.
The Specialists grant allowed me to get involved with more
students and faculty and sustain and strengthen the relationship
between our institutions.
During my two weeks in Ljubljana, I was housed at the residence
for visiting scholars and kept busy with lectures, seminars, and
meetings with individual faculty and students. I also presented
at the Slovenian Political Science Association meeting at Portoroz,
serving on a panel with a candidate for the Slovenian presidency
in the upcoming fall elections.
The serial nature of the grant is particularly important. Several
short courses were planned and put on the schedule for the next
two years. Perhaps the most important part of this Fulbright experience
was the strengthening and expanding of my relationships with faculty
and students at the University of Ljubljana.
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Presenting at Slovenian Political Science Assoc. Meeting
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I also used this visit to learn more about Slovenian history.
I was particularly struck by the courage and resourcefulness of
the Partisans during World War II when the country was under German
and Italian occupation. We visited two sights, the first in the
mountains where the Partisan movement was organized in 1941. Today,
it is a rustic inn where stew cooks in a cauldron on an open fire
while the patrons mingle with the pigs, goats and chickens.
The second and most impressive sight was Francia, a hospital
built and hidden under the noses of the Germans. Now preserved
as a museum, it was accessible only by hiking up a rocky, roaring
stream for several kilometers (today there is a trail by the stream).
Severely wounded soldiers from around the war theater were treated
there. It is amazing to see the incredible courage, ingenuity,
and stealth of the people of Slovenia. A letter from General Eisenhower
is framed on the wall thanking them for treating downed American
pilots.
The Fulbright experience not only is an opportunity contribute
but also to see how a nation's history helps shape its present
and its future.
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