Miljam Pože.i, M.Sc. SLOVENE ISTRIA General on the region and border area. Geographical situation and proportions The region in question is a part oflstria — the peninsula, the major part of which now belongs to the Republic of Croatia. As a part of Slovenian Istria we consider the region measuring 34,459 ha (1.7 % of Slovenia) with 77,964 inhabitants (1995, representing 3.9 % of Slovenian population), and divided in three municipalities. There are 125 settlements in the region, among them there are three towns: Koper (24,595 inhabitants), Izola (10,460), Piran (4773, including the towns of Portorož and Lucija 13,558). From the administrative point of view, the region is divided in three municipalities: Koper (46,270 inhabitants), Izola (14,354) in Piran (17,340). On the northern border of Istria is situated the town of Trieste (257,000 inhabitants), the town which had been the main commercial centre of a large part of Istria (which today comprises the Slovenian Istria and a part of Croatian Istria) up to the end of World War II: after the new national boundary was set between Italy and Yugoslavia, Trieste was decreed to belong to Italy. Natural and geographical features The landscape sections of the Slovenian Istria are the coastal zone with accumulation plain areas, flysch uplands (hills and plateaux), and the Karst territory (Kras). In the accumulation plain areas and the wider hinterland behind them, the flat land prevails at a rather low height above sea level: in the past it was set aside for the saltpans, and on the margins for intense agriculture, whereas today there is a complex of manifold activ ities going on: tratile (Port of Koper), tourism, industry, agriculture, and settlements. The flysch landscape rises gradually from the sea to the hinterland, to the southeast over low hills (up to 200 m above sea level) further into higher flysch uplands and plateaux reaching up from 300 to 500 m above sea level), and to the north-east where it reaches the Karst territory. The climate of Slovenian Istria can be classified as a Mediterranean climate, with average temperature above 22° C in the warmest month, and 4.5° in January (Koper). In the higher flysch uplands and the Karst bordering area, the continental climatic influence is fell due to ihe height and distance from the sea, which is reflected on the vegetation and cultures (stock- breeding prevails). Development characteristics In the I9,h and early 20"' century, the respective region was the agricultural hinterland of the port and industrial town ofTrieste. Vegetables and milk for the town population came from the adjacent low lands along the coast, and hay and firewood were supplied from the uplands in the hinterland. The new national boundary between the two states (1954) exerted a considerable impact on the political and economic conditions. which changed thoroughly. Between 1945 and 1956, there was a large emigration stream from Istria to Trieste: 25,070 inhabitants, which was nearly one half of the population in the region (1931: 57,303), left their homes in the towns on the Istrian coast and emigrated to Trieste. Their homes were inhabited by the rural population from the hinterland hills and from inland of Istria, but also from other regions in Slovenia. Upon its union w ith Slovenia in 1954, the Slovenian Istria was primarily an agrarian region. Supported by industrialisation plan, intensive (and politically encouraged) immigration and dev elopment of other activities (traffic: port, tourism, trade). Koper and other coastal towns developed in major commercial centres. The population grew from 34,915 inhabitants (1953) to 75,929 in 1991, which is indicated by index 217. At that time, the index of population grow th in Slovenia was 131. The 'tertiary' and 'quaternary' activities prevail in the economic structure, in particular traffic, tourism and trade. The 'tertiary' and 'quarlemary' sectors employ 67 % of the activ e population, w hereas the respective figure for Slovenia is 45 %. In addition to the favourable situation at the sea, the economic growth also benefited from the region's position at the national boundary, by developing the local cross-border cooperation with Italy. Koper spread its area of influence to a part of the Croatian Istria. Table I: Border area in Slovene Istria. Number of inhabitants Index 1991/61 Number of settlements •/.Children up to 14 Per capita Income Region = 100 1900 1961 1991 1991 1994 Towns 23,022 26.783 48.275 180.2 5* 19.8 104.4 Suburban areas 11,723 13,303 20,685 155.5 38 19.2 97.5 Countryside 15.961 10.595 7383 69.7 82 17.7 77.0 Region 50.706 50,681 76.343 150.6 125 19.5 100.0 * Koper, Izola, Piran and urban settlements of Lucija and Portorož. 22 Regional Structure Intense economic development brought about considerable differences in the settlement structure of the region. Population and economic activities concentrated on the three coastal towns, in which 66 % of the region's population reside today. Those settlements in which the population was growing in number during the whole postwar period, represent 26% of the region's surface and accommodate 93 % of the population, with an average density of 553 inhabitants per square km. In 1900. 31.5 % of the population lived in rural areas, whereas today this figure has fallen below 10 %. The rural areas which comprise some two thirds of the region is exposed to depopulation: the population has nearly halved in the post-war period. Many hamlets and small settlements are in ruins, the cultural landscape lays open to deterioration. The most intensive migration processes affected the areas most distant from the coastal agglomeration, i.e. along the Croatian border. Municipalities endeavour to solve the current disproportions in physical planning by fostering land development and communal improvement of rural areas (construction of connecting roads, waterworks, sewerage system), which gradually creates adequate living conditions also in these parts of the region. Consequently, in the last decade the number of population in the countryside is no longer on the decline: moreover, numerous houses were newly built in many villages, in particular in central settlements. Korte above the Drnica valley in the $a\rinsko Gričevje hills has typical littoral-type houses. The area bordering on the Republic of Croatia The area along the national boundary with the Republie of Croatia ineludes the following local communities: Gračišče, Gradin, Marezige and Borit, Šmarje and Sečovlje (excluding Podgotje and Kakitovcc, which were not comprised in the publie opinion research). Although these areas are physically situated along the border, they differ as regards the connection and communications with the settlements on the other side of the border. The settlements of the local community Marezige, BorJt and Šmarje are not directly linked to the settlements over the border, since they arc naturally divided by the Valley of Dragonja. The situation is different in the area of Gradiče and Sečovlje, which are connected with Croatia by motorway and international border passes: the pass of Sočcrga connects the area of GračiSče with Croatia, whereas Sečovlje has got two border passes. Sečovlje and Dragonja. A border pass for local cross-border traffic is foreseen in Brezovica (Local Community of Gradin), which does not function yet; local people endeavour to open another such border pass in llrvoji, which indicates a certain link-up among the places on both sides of the national boundary, though the whole region belongs to depopulated areas in Slovenia and Croatia. A significant connectedness of bordering areas in the area of Gračišče-Gradin and that of Piran reflect the variable administrative regulations in the past. During the 19"' century and the first half of the 20,h century, the cadastral units of Movraž and Sočcrga belonged to the municipality of Buzet. and the cadastral units of Gradin and Topo-lovec were integral part of the municipality ofObrtalj/Buje. Settlements in the cadastral units of Gradin and Pregara, and partly in the cadastral unit of Topolovec, were annexed to the municipality of Koper only in 1956. On the contrary, the settlements in the cadastral units of Savudrija and KaiUel (today in the territory of R. Croatia) belonged to the municipality of Piran in the first half of this century! The whole area along the national boundary with Croatia belongs to the rural part of the Koper region. It represents 46 % of its surface and only 6 % of the population. Table 2: Basic data of border areas along the Slovene-Croatian border in Slovene Istria. Local community Number of inhabitants Agrarian popul. % Children up to 14 Per capita income ¡900 1961 1991 1 91/61 K(1991) (199/) reg.= IOO(94) Gračiiče. Gradin 3639 2326 1373 59.0 18.6 17.5 65.5 Marezige, Šmarje 5787 4289 3165 73.8 11.8 19.5 78.0 Sečovlje 1009 1442 1560 108.2 6.6 19.9 81.9 Border area 10.435 8057 6098 75.7 12.0 1" 1 76.3 Region 50,706 49,997 76.343 150.6 3.2 19.5 ....... Tlic data in the tabic 2 reveal a common feature of this area, namely its falling he-hind the development of the region; the figures also point out the differences among them. The settlements in the local communities of Gračišče and Gradin are in the most unfavourable position, with the population constantly on the decline and a relatively high share of agrarian and aged population. Per capita income is by one third below the region's av erage. On the other hand, the position of the three settlements in the local community of Sečovlje is quite the opposite: the number of inhabitants is grow ing, the share of agrarian population is low and the per capita income is slightly below the region's average, however it exceeds the average of border areas. Attitude of the population along the Slovene/Croatian border to the national boundary, and cross-border relations The border area in question belongs to the gravitational sphere of the coastal towns and is closely related to the development of the littoral (employment, supply): it is therefore presumed that the national border does not affect the border area explicitly in an adverse way as regards commerce and development. Gravitational power of the coastal towns, in particular of Koper, was in the past — before the national boundary was established — perceived also in the part of Croatian Istria (employment, supply, regional hospital, secondary schools and institutions of higher education): we therefore assume that in some areas, to a certain extent, some negative impacts in the commercial sphere were exerted by setting up the national boundary with Croatia. By all means, the boundary has brought about a weighty change in the lile of this area and mainly in the very experience of one's native/home placc, the position of which was affected by the border. We tried to find out by a questionnaire about these changes and their character. The opinion research comprised three different border areas: • the Local community of Gračiiče and Gradin as typically rural and depopulation area, the most distant area from the coastal towns. The nearest local centre is Buzct on the Croatian side of the border: before the boundary was drawn, the attachment to Croatia was considerable. • the Local community of Marezige. BorSt and Šmarje is in fact located along the border, however, there is practically no functional and traffic connection with Croatia. • the Local community of Sečovlje: an urbanised area closc to the tourist centre — the town complex of Piran - Portorož - Lucija, located at the main traffic motorway to the Croatian Istria. According to the census taken in 1991,73.4 % of the inhabitants declared Slovenian nationality, and the share of population in the local communities in the border area reached 81 %. Among the respondents the share of Slov ene nationals was even higher — 86 %. Based on the census, as well as our opinion poll, in the respective border area the share of Croats exceeds the share of other nationals of former Yugoslav ia. At the time of census, there were 5.4 % of Croats (municipality: 7.5). other nationals of former Yugoslavia 3.8 % (municipality: 8.5 %). If we compare the nationality of respondent and his/her spouse (partner), we find (hat Croatian nationals arc mostly married with Slovenes, whereas other nationals of former Yugoslavia concluded a greater number of marriages among themselves than with Slovene nationals. Table 3: Nationality of respondents and their spouses. OraCiJie. Gradin Mare/ijsc, Smarjc Seiovlje Total No. % No. % No. % No. % Slovene 102 87.2 142 88.8 72 80.0 316 86.1 Croat 9 7.7 6 3.8 6 6.7 21 5.7 Former YU national 6 5.1 7 4.4 7 7.8 20 5.4 Italian 0 0.0 3 1.9 1 1.1 4 I.I Undeclared 0 0.0 2 1.3 4 4.4 6 1.6 Total 6 100.0 160 100.0 90 100.0 367 100.0 Piran is a town in Slowniun ¡stria with the best presett ed medieval appearance. The educational structure of the respondents is much higher than shown in the Census 1991: this is due to the fact that younger or middle generation was included in the opinion poll. Nearly two thirds of the respondents have vocational or secondary school education (according to the census, 33 %, for the region 44 %). There are certain discrepancies between the areas: the respondents in the area of GraCiSie-Gradin have the lowest educational structure (in Smaije and Marezige, a high percent of respondents with higher and university education is due to the fact that the questionnaire was completed by teachers too, which may lead to misinterpretation of the educational structure). Table 4: The educational structure in the border areas. Gračišie, Gradin Marezige, Šmarje Sečovlje border area No. % No. % No. % No. % Primary school 18 27.3 13 IS.I 6 12.2 37 18.4 Vocational s. 22 33.3 16 18.6 17 34.7 55 27.4 Secondarv s. 24 36.4 28 32.6 19 38.8 71 35.3 Higher cd. universitv ed. 2 3.0 29 33.7 7 14.3 38 18.9 Total 66 100.0 86 100.0 49 100.0 201 100.0 Migrations and inter-ethnical relations The respective area is a rural one, with typical depopulation trends in the past (except Sečovlje), therefore the question on their migration plans is regarded an important index of further development of the area. Likew ise, inter-ethnical relations in the border areas may be a potential indicator of co-operation between the neighbouring countries. Although the respective area is a part of rural counlrysidc with typical depopulation trends, scarcely a third of the respondents (or both spouses) have lived in their native place (or its close vicinity — up to 5 km): most of them arc in the area of Gradin-Gračišče. Most families (both spouses) migrated to the settlements of the local community of Sečovlje, which is actually the bordering area to the town complex of Piran-Portorož-Lucija. Of the population migrated to this area, 55.6 % came in the '80's (1981-90). which also relates to the age of the respondents and reflects a general impression of stopping the emigration trends from the rural countryside. According to the questionnaires, the members of other nations immigrated to this area as a spouse or both spouses. There are no significant differences between the immigrants and the natives. The finding that settlements at the border are no longer a source of emigration is supported by the migration plans. Of all respondents. 70 % are sure that they would not leave, and further 24 % stated a great probability of staying in the area. Only two respondents from the area ol'GraCiSCe-Gradin (Prcgara) intend to move from the area, from personal reasons. Among those who are potential migrants, personal reasons are given to support the eventual migration. Bad economic conditions and remoteness of the border area are only occasionally given as a reason of eventual migration; nobody stated an inadequate housing as a motive for eventual migration. Table 5: Duration of stay in the border area. Gračitte. Gradin Marezige. Šmarje Sečovlje Border area No. % No. •/« No. % No. % Both spouses sincc infancy 23 36.5 26 30.6 15 30.6 M 32.5 One spouse immigrated 33 52.4 35 41.2 17 34.7 85 43.1 Both spouses immigrated 7 II.1 24 28.2 17 34.7 48 24.4 Total 63 100.0 85 100.0 49 100.0 197 100.0 It is also characteristic that nobody with higher or university education considers migration. Likew ise, the members of other nationalities do not consider migration. Though rural, this area is interesting for immigration. Nearly two thirds (65.2 %) of the respondents staled that inhabitants from other Yugoslav republics immigrated during the last twenty years: the least immigrants came to the area ofGračiščc-Gradin, and the most of them settled down in the local community of Šmarje and Marezige (77.5 %). The relations between the natives (Slovenes) and immigrants are good, without any conflicts arising (40.8 % of replies), or are mostly good, with occasional conflicts caused by personal reasons (21.0 %). Ten per cent of the respondents believe that immigrants do not pay consideration to the habits, customs and the culture of the native population. A few respondents believ e that the attitude of immigrants toward the native population is sometimes unfavourable, or that the attitude of the natives toward the immigrants is adverse (below 6 %). The lowest opinion on the relations between the native population and immigrants are found in Šmarje (only 29 % respondents consider these relations as good, without any conflicts emerging): the greatest part of respondents in Šmarje believe that immigrants arc blamed for causing unfair competition for jobs and business (7.6 %, whereas in the w hole area 5.9 %), and that immigrants make the residential environment less attractive 82.1 %, whereas in the whole area 5.9 %). The least conflicts between the native population and immigrants are found in the area of GračiSče-Gradin. Atkr Slovenia gained independence, the respondents believe that the relations between Slov enes and Croats have not improv ed: on the contrary, 35.8 % of respondents assess that the relations have aggravated — again this is most obvious in Šmarje (40 %) and only 6 % assert that the relations have improved. Among the Slovenes the number of respondents asserting that the relations have aggravated exceeds (36 %) the respective number in members of other nationals (30 %). The possibility that conflicts among Croats and Slovenes could arise is considered as true by 71.7 % of respondents; a scarce llllh of respondents docs not consider this to be feasible, whereas 9.1 % of the respondent are convinccd of high probability of conflicts. On the contrary, on member of other nationals considers this possibility as true: most of them (52 %) believe that conflicts are not feasible at all. The respondents were requested to assess personal characteristics of the Slovenes and Croats. The replies and remarks showed that they were not willing to reply to this question. I lowever, the replies given conveyed a certain picture as shown in the tables below: Table 6: Characteristics of Slovenes (% of responses). Good 57.6 39.7 2.7 Bad Self-confident 50.9 38.3 10.9 Not self-conlldcnt Industrious 82.0 15.9 2.1 Lazy Generous 24.0 51.4 24.6 Stingy Honest 47.0 50.8 2.2 Unfair Reliable 46.9 47.5 5.6 Unreliable Economical 65.4 30.7 3.9 Spendthrift Cheerful 47.8 37.8 14.4 Embittered Open 41.8 28.6 Reserved Table 7: Characteristics of Croats (% of responses). Good 36.0 56.0 8.0 Bad Self-confident 47.4 44.5 8.1 Not self-confident Industrious 47.4 44.6 8.0 Lazv Generous 22.9 61.2 15.9 Stingy Honest 19.3 69.0 11.7 Unfair Reliable 15.1 62.2 22.7 Unreliable Economical 32.0 56.8 11.2 Spendthrift Cheerful 48.0 42.8 9.2 Embittered Open 33.1 50.9 16.0 Reserved Slovenes are more extremely (good/bad) assessed than Croats, favourable assessments prevail (in the ration I: 4.7). The self-assessment of Slovenes is the same as total, whereas other nationals have assessed the Slovenes generally slightly more favourably than they assess themselves. In assessment of personal characteristics of Croats, the av erage and neutral assessments prevail. If we lake a look at the assessments given by the Slovenes and other nationals separately, the average and neutral assessments likewise prevail, however, other nations assess them slightly less favourably and reproach them with reserve, lack of reliability, and unfairness. Koper with its port is economically the most important littoral tow n in Slovenia. The new national boundary-line and cross-border relations In the introduction we defined the developmental differences within the border area; now we arc principally interested whether these differences are reflected in the impacts of the new national boundary on the lives of the people in particular areas. Over one half of the respondents (51.5 %) believe that the new national boundary-line had an adverse impact on the life in the border areas; only 13 % can see a favourable influence in that. The inhabitants of Mare/ige and Šmarje observe the least negative impacts: it should be noted that there is no direct connection with the area over the border. The highest share of negative assessments is in Sečovlje. Among Slovenes the belief in adv erse impacts of the boundary-line is higher, whereas other nationals were more generous with positive assessments (22 %). The assessments do not differ in correlation with the education: the share of favourable assessments is slightly higher with the population hav ing primary school education only. Table 8: Assessment of the changes related to the new national boundary. Favourable (positive) No changes Unfavourable (negative) Total No. % No. % No. No. % Feeling safe 51 28.2 83 45.9 47 26.0 181 100.0 Traffic connections 17 9.4 65 35.9 99 54.7 181 100.0 Employment 12 6.7 73 40.8 94 52.5 179 100.0 Purchase, supply 24 13.4 41.3 81 45.3 179 100.0 Going to events 14 7.8 89 49.7 76 42.5 179 100.0 Bonds with relatives and friends 16 8.9 106 58.9 58 32.2 180 100.0 Recreation and excursions 14 8.0 73 42.0 87 50.0 174 100.0 Total 148 11.8 563 44.9 542 43.3 1253 100.0 Of the favourable influence, the feeling of safety is strongly emphasised: this is most explicit in the area of Gračišče-Gradin (38.3 %), and the lowest in Sečovlje (18.6 %). Respondents find most negative impacts in the area of traffic connections, employment ;n 1 recreation. There arc no essential differences among individual areas: only the order between these three areas is changing: in Gračišče-Gradin the adverse impacts are most severe in the field of employment (employment in Buzet), whereas in Sečovlje the area of excursions and recreation, as well as traffic connections, is exposed. Cross-border relations were monitored in the light of Croatian media, contacts with relatives and friends, work in Croatia and travel across the border. Table 9: Monitoring of the Croatian TV and radio programmes and newspapers. TV programmes Radio programmes News xipers No. % No. % No. % Slovene 161 78.9 187 91.7 192 94.1 Croatian 65 31.9 27.5 24 11.8 Italian 167 81.9 77 37.7 - Austrian 5 2.5 2 1.0 — None 6 2.9 S 3.9 8 3.9 Although the respective area is situated along the Croatian boundary-line, the monitoring of TV and radio programmes clearly shows a much greater influence of the Italian media over the Croatian ones. These figures do not differ much according to the areas: Italian media (TV and radio) prevail in all areas but the area of GraâiSôc-Gradin, in which Croatian are in the lead. Respondents of lower educational structure (with primary school, also secondary and vocational school) follow the Croatian programmes, whereas td, whereas respondents w ith higher and university education mostly watch Italian TV programmes and listen to Slovene radio programmes. Newspapers are least read by the population of primary school and low er education. Table 10: Friends and relativ es across the border. Slovenes Other nations in this area Total No. % No. % No. % Personal friends on the other side of the border 88 53.0 23 85.2 Ill 57.5 Relatives on the other side of the border 76 45.8 22 81.5 97 50.3 Total 166 100.0 27 100.0 193 100.0 Nearly all respondents of Croatian and members of other nationalities of former Yugoslavia have got some friends and relatives on the other side of the border: also nearly a half of Slovenes has got relatives across the border. Again the population of Šmarje and Marezige has the lowest share, and that ofGračiSCe-Gradin (69 % of respondents hav e relatives in Croatia) has the highest share. Table 11: Employment across the border before the national boundary was established. GraCiSCe, Gradin Marc/ige, Šmarje Seiovljc Total No. % No. % No. % No. % Still working 1 1.5 1 1.2 3 6.1 5 2.6 Had work, no longer docs now 8 12.3 6 7.0 5 10.2 19 9.8 Did not work, but now working 0 0.0 2 2.3 0 0.0 •> 1.0 Did not work, nor docs now 56 86.2 77 89.5 41 83.7 165 85.5 Total 65 100.0 86 100.0 49 100.0 193 100.0 The information on employment that any member of the respondent's family might have (had) in Croatia before the national boundary was established reveal that this area was not much dependent on the Croatian side: 85.5 % of respondents declare that none of their family ever worked — or works — across the border. The highest link of employment was in the area ofGraèiSie-Gradin. Employment across the border does not depend considerably on the nationality or education. The inhabitants of respected area do not cross the border very often. Of all respondents. 52.5 % only cross the border once a year, and only 23 % do that once per month (again, the area of Gradin-GraCitte (36.9 %) is at the front, and Smarje and Marezige are behind ( 15 %). This information is related to the reasons for travelling to Croatia: among them visiting of their relatives and friends and recreation prevail. I do not naval lo Croatia spends hcadays/ vac.it on ocuiw». recreaeon gong to entertanment and Cultural events busness partners in Croatia visitng trends visiting relatives purchase of other goods purchase of agncul machinery, equc . tertilis . seeds buying dottles, footwear. sports equpment buyng household appliances, equipment, (urrutixe buyng