What Do Slovenians Think of Americans, Russians, Chinese, Croats, Serbs, Roma... and Others?

Although the era of globalization should gradually be reducing intercultural differences, it has become apparent, particularly since the year 2000, that these differences continue to shape perceptions of members of other nations, nationalities, and ethnic groups. In the region of the former Yugoslavia, where stereotypes are deeply entrenched, they significantly impact the region’s political and economic stability and security. Alongside new factors shaping these countries: the rise of political populism, the growing influence of non-European actors (the U.S., Russia, China, Turkey, and Arab countries), the region’s economic difficulties and the growing mutual unfamiliarity among the populations of these countries, the study of stereotypes, ethnic distance, and cultural embeddedness is crucial for understanding developments in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

Researching the characteristics and persistence of stereotypes in the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo) was the focus of the project Growing cultural distance and stereotypisation in small transition states: the case of ex-Yugoslavia countries. Prof. Dr. Boštjan Udovič from the Center of Diplomatic, Economic, and Legal Studies (UL FSS) and Assist. Prof. Dr. Žan Lep (UL FF) emphasized during the presentation of the results that overcoming stereotypes depends not only on the frequency but, above all, on the quality of contacts between nations.

You can learn more about the project’s results at the link.

Photo: FDV