The Institute for Ethnic Studies (IES) is a public research organisation that has been operating since 1925. With a team of 25 staff members, it is considered a small research institute. Over the decades, the IES has taken an interdisciplinary approach to studying both historical and contemporary aspects related to the Slovene nation, the Slovene national communities in Italy, Austria, and Hungary, national minorities in Slovenia, and international minority protection. Since Slovenia’s independence in 1991, the IES has expanded its research to include ethnically mixed areas along the Slovene-Croatian border, the status of Slovenes in Western Balkan countries, Slovene emigrants worldwide, the Roma ethnic community, and immigrant or new minorities in Slovenia.
The Institute primarily conducts research in the field of ethnic studies within the framework of two research programmes and various national and international basic and applied research projects. Additionally, the IES provides expert analyses and studies to support state institutions in shaping policies related to minorities, migration, integration, education, and culture.
The Institute for Ethnic Studies actively collaborates with various research organizations, associations, faculties, and universities in Slovenia and internationally. It is also a member of the international networks IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network) and ANCSEE (Academic Network for Cooperation in Southeast Europe).
Group photos
Organizational structure INV
Administration
Director: Prof. Sonja Novak Lukanović, PhD
Assistant Director for Finance and Accounting: Ana Malnar
Administrative Secretary: Nataša Lazar Milošević
The Director manages and represents the Institute and ensures the legality of its operations. The Director is accountable to the IES Administrative Board.
Science and Research Unit
Head: Romana Bešter, PhD
The Science and Research Unit comprises all IES researchers, including research counsellors, senior research associates, research associates, research assistants with doctorate, and young researchers.
For more information on the Institute’s research activities, please visit PROJECTS.
Lendava Unit
Enota Lendava – Lendvai Kutatócsoport
Head: Attila Kovács, PhD
The IES Lendava Unit was inaugurated in November 2005 in the presence of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Janez Drnovšek and the President of the Republic of Hungary László Sólyom. In 2020, the Unit relocated to new, larger, and better-equipped premises at Kranjčeva 4 in Lendava.
The research activities of the Lendava Unit focus on ethnicity and (inter)ethnic relations along the northeastern border, covering both sides of the Slovenia–Hungary border. Research is primarily dedicated to studying the Hungarian minority in Slovenia and the Slovene minority in Hungary.
A Nemzetiségi Kutatóintézet Lendvai Kutatócsoportja 2005 novemberében lett hivatalosan megnyítva a szlovén és a magyar köztársasági elnökök, dr. Janez Drnovšek és dr. Sólyom László részvételével, 2020-ban pedig új, nagyobb és jobban felszerelt helyiségekbe költözött a Kranjec utca 4-es szám alatt.
A Lendvai Kutatócsoport munkája mindenekelőtt a nemzetiségi kérdésekre és a nemzetiségek közötti viszony kutatására fókuszál Szlovénia északkeleti részén, a határ mindkét oldalán, úgy Szlovéniában, mint Magyarországon. Elsősorban a szlovéniai magyar kisebbséget és a magyarországi szlovén kisebbséget érintő kutatásokról van szó.
Rijeka Unit
Enota Reka – Rijeka
Head: Barbara Riman, PhD
The idea of establishing a research unit dedicated to studying the Slovene community in Croatia dates back to the 1990s when this topic became an important subject of research. Active efforts to realise this idea began in 2010, and in 2017, the Rijeka Unit was officially established. The unit was inaugurated on 16 March 2017, marking the 70th anniversary of Slovenski dom KPD Bazovica. Initially, it operated on the premises of Slovenski dom KPD Bazovica, where IES researchers have maintained excellent cooperation. Since 2024, the Unit has been based at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka.
Researchers at the Rijeka Unit focus on the history and contemporary developments of the Slovene community in Croatia. Their studies cover various aspects of minority life, including cultural activities, media, and political participation. Special emphasis is placed on the rights of the Slovene community in Croatia, particularly regarding the learning and use of the Slovene language.
The team continuously collects and analyses primary and secondary sources, organises research materials, and conducts quantitative and qualitative field studies. Cooperation with local communities and relevant ministries in Slovenia and Croatia plays a crucial role in their work, as does collaboration with Slovene (self-)organisations in Croatia, which has been particularly successful.
International Centre for Interethnic Relations and Minorities in Southeastern Europe
Head: Prof. Mitja Žagar, PhD
The International Centre for Interethnic Relations and Minorities in Southeastern Europe is dedicated to the study of interethnic relations, human and minority rights, and the status and protection of minorities in Southeastern Europe. Established as part of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, the Centre aims to:
– Conduct research activities and projects that promote democracy, minority protection, and respect for human and minority rights. The Centre also supports the implementation, enforcement, and further development of international and national standards for the protection of human and minority rights and protection of ethnic minorities.
– Promote positive interethnic relations, tolerance, coexistence, integration, inclusion, and cooperation in ethnically diverse societies in Southeastern Europe and beyond.
– Examine and encourage best practices in managing ethnic diversity and interethnic relations.
– Organise training programmes and initiatives focused on conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and effective relationship management.
The Centre actively fosters international academic and research collaboration in Southeastern Europe and contributes to the development of the Academic Network.
For more information, please visit the International Centre for Interethnic and Minority Relations in Southeastern Europe.
Project Office
Project Office Coordinator: Gruša Zlobec, PhD
Since 2023, the Institute has operated a Project Office, directly linked to the ROAD3P project.
The ROAD3P project (Expand Horizon in an Ambitious and Dynamic Way through Project Office Support) aims to strengthen the capacities of Slovenia’s research sector to align with EU objectives and improve its success rates in project applications. Throughout the project’s duration, six partner public research organisations collaborate to improve work efficiency and professional competencies, introduce optimal solutions for project office operations, enhance intellectual property and knowledge management, and simplify and streamline the application process for project calls, with a particular focus on centralised EU programmes.
ROAD3P is co-funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Specialised INDOC Centre
Head: Sofija Zver, PhD
The Institute for Ethnic Studies houses a specialised Information and Documentation Centre (INDOC) which serves as Slovenia’s central hub for ethnic and minority studies. Its collection includes approximately 22,000 items of academic literature. In addition to its extensive book collection, INDOC provides users with a cartographic collection and an archive of major Slovene daily and weekly newspapers, as well as various Slovene publications from neighbouring countries.
For more information, see the INDOC tab.