Is Slovenia truly more central european than balkan? Is it a mix of both? How do you see it? I am curious what slovenians themselves say
Posted by Efficient_Resource15@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 534 comments
General_Antelope2306@reddit
Ask a proper question and you'll get a proper answer, which is not a short one. Slovenians are in many ways balkan because of their yugoslav social and cultural heritage. In many ways they are central european because of their austrian hungarian history. There are also Italian influences. So pick your choice. It's complicated.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Its not. Its Central European. Jugo is dead
General_Antelope2306@reddit
Yes, Yugo is dead, but the Balkan is very much alive. This is why the "Central European" argument can be hypocritical. When Slovenians talk to Western Europeans, they proudly claim to be Central European because they want to look sophisticated, wealthy, and orderly. But internally, when looking at their own history, their own family trees, and their own emotional scars, Slovenians know that their blood, their survival, and their modern society are inextricably bound to the South Slavic world.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So because of 69 years of yugoslavia is not slovenia balkan? There is not even anything balkan about slovenian culture
General_Antelope2306@reddit
I've lived in Yugoslavia and since the independence in Slovenia for 46 years now. There are an awful lot of things from the Balkan in Slovenian culture. In general Slovenians have a strong feeling of connection with other Balkan people. Slovenian won't eat Bratwurst but with pleasure they eat Burek, Čevapčiči, Rašnjiči, they like to drink Turško kavo from a džezva, drink travarico and the list goes on and on. When they curse, they do it in srbo-croatian! They are connected with the Balkan through music, tourism and labor migration. Concerts of Balkan pop icons are always sold out in Slovenia. It would interesting to ask the Slovenians with what part of the South of Europe they feel most connected, with the Austria-Hungary, Italy or the Balkan, I bet they will say the Balkan.
AlternativeFile4389@reddit
What can I say, Slovenia is so beautiful…
kezajan@reddit
Slovenia culturally isn't balkan in any way
fireswalkwithme@reddit
That's true, but they are very european tryhards wanna be! I lived in Austria, Slovenian people would try to act more culutrally european than Austrians themselvs!
kezajan@reddit
Nah, they aren’t “european tryhards”. Their entire history is literally them being alligned or a part of some central european state. HRE, Habsburg Monarchy, Austria. Go drive around Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, and then Slovenia, and tell me they are a part of the same cultural sphere. They aren’t
NightZT@reddit
I had slovenian colleagues at university in Vienna that lectured me about waste seperation when I'd throw stuff away and didn't pay attention where lol
fireswalkwithme@reddit
Lol
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Don’t have to try
Bullshitman_Pilky@reddit
Yes, here women get raped and don't like it
Hazards-of-Love@reddit
Lmao I was waiting for this comment.
Bullshitman_Pilky@reddit
It got me temp banned by reddit :P
Hazards-of-Love@reddit
Recently I got a temp ban for criticizing Israel.
Efficient_Elk_5243@reddit
For all people who argue about what is "Balkan".
Balkan, Balkan "peninsula" & South-Eastern Europe is not the same.
The same is also not; everything South from Danube & Sava is Balkan {with other words South-Eastern Europe} & not everything North from Danube & Sava is Central Europe.
P. S. - Bucurest {capital of Romania} is not on Balkan "peninsula" & Southern part of Slovenia it is, although questionable, but let's it is... Every inch of that Balkan part of Slovenia is closer to Western Europe than terittory of Romania, Serbia.... not on the Balkan "peninsula".
OkDiscipline9919@reddit
Not really, no. Slovenia is a slavic country and has a lot in common with Croatia. There are some western influences, but there are such influences in most of these countries.
OkDiscipline9919@reddit
I think it's Balkan
MIkaela39752@reddit
i call them balkaners just so i dont inflate their already greatly inflated egos
Ha55aN1337@reddit
Yes, Slovenia is the balkan coutry with the ego problems 😂
SmartFlyNR1@reddit
Slovenia is not a Balkan country. It never was
Ha55aN1337@reddit
Yet here we both are in this subreddit.
SmartFlyNR1@reddit
Nebi bil tukaj, če nebi bilo treba ljudem razlagati marsikaj...
Ha55aN1337@reddit
“Ne bi” se piše narazen in “marsičesa” ne bi bilo treba razlagati - rodilnik.
Da ne bo kdo mislil, da si nepismen balkanec!
GeniusPlastic@reddit
LMAO
DullBirthday6750@reddit
No its not
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
No one was more eager than Slovenia to skitter away from the breakup of YU (obligatory disclaimer - I love Slovenia and think it’s one of the loveliest places in the world). Scrub, scrub, scrub that Balkan taint away! 😘
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Jugo has nothing to do with our identity. We were under Austria for over 1000+ years and that didn’t make us germanic.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
I’m curious though - were you even alive when Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia? I was, and I traveled to Slovenia many times while working in Croatia for two years back in the mid-80’s. And while SLO was definitely different than HR (in mostly nice ways), it was also not that far away in many things. Also SLO was part of Jugo from 1918 to 1991, so not an insignificant piece of recent history.
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
For those of us born after our independence, Yugoslavia means absolutely nothing. What matters is our culture that has been shaped for centuries, only a small fraction of which was under Yugoslavia. Our culture is quite different from the Balkan cultures so it wasn't influenced much, apart from in mixed urban areas where the Balkan immigrants live, but growing up in a semi-rural small town there really isn't many similarities to speak of.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
I understand for those born after indépendance. Those who lived in YU would understand what I’m saying, but I’m not really kidding that they ran away from that heritage as fast as they could, and no way would they admit any taint to their children. I wish an older Slovene would chime in, because I’m sure (if they’re honest) they’ll know what I’m talking about. Anyway, I still love Slovenia, and do recognize it as a special and beautiful place. I’d still love to summit Triglav after trying twice in my youth (thwarted once by weather and the second time by stupidly forgetting my passport in the hotel below, so couldn’t stay at the dom just below the summit, and had to go back down the mountain in the same day - ouch). But I’m not sure that’s realistic for a nearly 70 year old with a bad knee - 😂).
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
I wouldn't say they ran away from their heritage. The impression I get from older people, perhaps different to other Yugoslav republics, is that they never really considered themselves Yugoslav. Sure, they were obviously Yugoslav citizens but they always identified only as Slovenes and it always felt natural to strive for greater autonomy and eventually independence, Yugoslavia was merely a stepping stone on the path towards that goal. Even when watching sports for example, they only really cared if a Slovene was on the national team.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
The original name for Yugoslavia was “Kingdom of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs”, which I imagine they taught you in school (or maybe not).
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
No, it was the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. You're confusing it with the short-lived State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which merged with the Kingdom of Serbia after roughly a month to form Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Regardless, that was only the name, it was a centralized state in Belgrade with a Serbian monarch. That lasted only a decade as it was renamed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
Yes - you’re right. I was misled by the English Wikipedia article that gets the Kingdom name wrong (yours is correct). But regardless, it was known as Yugoslavia (informally) from 1918. Prior to the end of WW I, there was a pan-south-slav aspiration to be united without foreign empires (Austro-Hungary and Ottomans). And Slovenes, Croats and Serbs were supporters, but it didn’t take long for the whole equality thing to be quickly hijacked into essentially Serbian overlords making all the important decisions. But I can’t believe all traces of seventy years of shared heritage have been erased already.
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
Depends on what kind of heritage you're talking about. There are still buildings from that time. Communist and post-communist elites still influence our politics today. But 70 years is not enough time to massively influence the food we eat, music we listen to, our traditions etc. There were people who grew up in Austria-Hungary and saw independence. In everyday life the Balkan influence is only visible wherever Balkan immigrants live, whether that's a burek/čevapi/kebab shop or the type of music you hear through the windows of houses or cars. There are Slovenes living in those areas, who have adapted elements of that culture, similarly to how you see native people in many major European cities adapt elements of Arab/Turkish/Indian culture. But that's just multiculturalism, it doesn't change the core culture that we see in less urban areas.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
I’m sorry, man. But your comments just reinforce the impression I’ve had that some Slovenes are trying to wash off the ‘stink’ of ever having been associated with YU. It shows in the way you phrase things. To me, it’s sad, like trying to pretend you never dated a girl you were once engaged to. I understand that there’s a core to what a Slovene is, but at least in my opinion, it’s not a thing that’s unchanging and pure - nations and cultures grow and embrace, or can shrink and deny.
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
Here's the common misconception: that we are pretending. We don't deny we were a part of Yugoslavia but it's also not our defining trait. Pretending all the time would be tiresome. It's just that we don't care to pretend to be something we're not. To be honest, I'm not quite sure what you want from us. Say that we're Balkan as if that changes the way we live our lives? Or adopt a different lifestyle?
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
It’s all good. Thanks for helping me understand the perspective of some Slovenes.
Desert_Stride@reddit
I'm also slovenian, though I was also born after the breakup. I disagree with the other commenter. My parents and grandparents did (i believe) consider themselves yugoslavs, and were to an extent proud of that identity. They also sometimes speak fondly of those times, though they also bash on it for being disfunctional 😆. When the breakup happened however, they all agree that it was time to get out, the state was failing and the power dynamic between the republics was broken beyond repair. All this to say: slovenia is deeply polarized, about half of us are on the left politically, and that seemingly somewhat strongly (although not at all completely, maybe like 2/3 at best? And I'm just guessing here) correlates with the families that supported Yugoslavia and socialism to an extent. The other side of the spectrum is generally the christian conservatives, who (again, I'm guessing) seemingly consider YU to have been a necessary but unfortunate step in our history? Anyways a lot of slovenes look up to germans/austrians for their proper qualities while also finding them a bit cold/dry. We're a mix of both cultures imo, and while i wouldn't consider myself a balkaner, i also wouldn't say we're closer to the austrians. And much less than that goes for italians of hungarians, we didn't have that much interaction with them i think.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
See what I mean… (kidding)
Ha55aN1337@reddit
That’s my point :) of all the “god nations”, we are certainly tame when it comes to having an enormeous self image.
WeakSalesTactics@reddit
Basic community service, we all need to keep Central Europe in line. Also don't forget to tell Austrians that they're directly responsible for both world wars, Slovakia that they're just Upper Hungary, and the Czechs that they're eastern europe and would be part of Upper Hungary if it wasn't for Skoda and Tatra. Before you ask, ignore Poland, they're objectively Eastern European (look at the map).
DrGnz81@reddit
I guess you didn’t include something here for Hungary as we are cursed anyway.
PavelKringa55@reddit
Just what I wanted to tell to Lechia Gdansk fans, but then I thought of dental work cost and decided not to do it.
Plastic_Ad_2424@reddit
And please don't stop. I love to be called balkaner because we are slavic people. We have more in vommon with other balkan countries than we have with hungary.italy or austria for that matter. Austrians love it when they think they are superior but then I start laughing when I remember that germans call them white gipsies
lukuh123@reddit
Greatly inflated egos? Compared to all other bigger balkan countries with strong nationalism? You have to be fucking kidding me lmao
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
Pride in your nation is not the same as thinking you’re better than others (which would be ego, and is definitely a common affectation amongst Slovenes towards the Balkans). Not saying you are, but it’s been noticed before.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Why do you think balkan is an insult? And you don’t get a say in what we are
SmartFlyNR1@reddit
One simple answer. Only Central Europe! I don't know where the hell people get Balkan? Why mixing Slovenia with Balkans? I mean it makes no sense. Geographically, culturally, historically and genetically Slovenia is Central Europe. So similar to Austria and our brothers Slovakia and Czechia. Slovenia is Central Europe and it's nothing wrong with that. Never Balkan.
Ok_Buffalo_1820@reddit
90% Balkan 10% former Soviet.
Junior_Research_821@reddit
Good ole topik of every balcan country trying to escale the balkan label lol
SimpleNothingness@reddit
If someone was never Balkan like most of Croatia and Slovenia for 1000 years of our history until 1918.(google any Balkan map before 1918., Croatia and Slovenia are never included) why would we suddenly just accept that label because we were in a union with Balkan countries for 70 years? Granted, some regions in Croatia are fully turbo-Balkan, but as someone from Zagreb it’s just wrong. Even Budapest was under Ottomans for a good while whilst Zagreb was never conquered, like Ljubljana.
CasperGwamm@reddit
Slovenia is the least balkan of all the Balkan states by virtue of not having been under Ottoman occupation.
FerretExtension7048@reddit
i mean,neither did Croatia as i know
CasperGwamm@reddit
Not completely, no; thanks to the help from Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary. But large portions were under occupation for hundreds of years.
FerretExtension7048@reddit
thanks for explanation 👍
SimpleNothingness@reddit
Croatian regions of Slavonia and Dalmatian Hinterland were only occupied for 150-170 years, and they weren’t an integral nor integrated part of the empire, simply occupation zones which ceased to exist by the late 17th and 18th centuries.
SimpleNothingness@reddit
170 years at most, and it wasn’t a tremendous influence nor an actual integral part of the empire, like how Bosnia or Bulgaria were. They were just occupational zones.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Croatia did
WoodenGene8881@reddit
havent they been under austria hungary?
CasperGwamm@reddit
Yep, Slovenia was under Austria. They helped a lot in our fight with the Ottomans. The 100 years Croatian-Ottoman war ended with the Ottoman defeat at Sisak where soldiers from Slovenia and Austria also fought.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Its not balkan at all
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
Ofc it’s Balkan, no need to be insecure about it.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
You don’t get a say. And Austria is the biggest reason we aren’t
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
You speak german ?
DullBirthday6750@reddit
I know you aren’t Austrian. I speak German yes.
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
Ofc I am Austrian, don’t be so primitive. Ethnicity and nationality are different concepts.
then you should know very well that they are close to Germans (obviously), even if they never shared a nation apart from the infamous mustache man years.
Do you non ironically believe that Austrians feel closer to Slovenians as Germans ?
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Noone was talking about being similar to germany or Austria. I don’t want to be germanic. And the fact you just mentioned ethnicity and nationality says everything. And yes alot of Austrians did express that they feel closer to slovenes then some other parts of austria or germany. Particularly in steiermark
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
😂😂😂😂😂
DullBirthday6750@reddit
The only one insecure about their heritage is you considering you have a foreign flag in your name.
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
not really but as mentioned you have to move form ur primitive mindset if you wanna be considered more western, wich you painfully want.
I bear the flag of the nation i grew up in and consider my home. Your insecure as fuck about the perception of Sloviena on the internet.
your literally posting in Askbalkans while claiming you dont belong here, cant be more balkan as that.
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
lmaoooo
DullBirthday6750@reddit
No you wear that flag because you think it gives you some kind of status. You aren’t austrian and they don’t consider you one. You have an identity crisis and this subreddit gives you a false sense of control. Everyone here knows you aren’t austrian.
CasperGwamm@reddit
Ignore him. Dude's a chetnik shill larping as an Austrian.
HamzaFire@reddit
A lot of people listening to balkan music, eat balkan food. We were part of Yugoslavia, there are many people who came to Slovenia during the wars. More people are still coming for jobs in construction. You can't say it's not balkan at all.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
We listen to american music aswell. Does this make us american ? We were part of Austria for much longer and we arent germanic. The ungrateful immigrants don’t mean anything
Final_Chair643@reddit
Funny story is that when the ottomans were invading towards Austria they asked the city of Maribor if they could let them use their bridge, on what they said "no" and told them to go around, which they did
Independent_Weight53@reddit
And I think this is beautiful
OldRip7185@reddit
In my oppinion, Slovenia is closest to Czechia, Slovakia and Poland
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
How many times is this going to be asked. This is the 1000th post about this.
Slovenia is culturally Central Europe. They were for 1000 years. 70 years of Yugoslavia cannot change that. They are about as balkan as Hungary and only a bit more balkan than Slovakia.
If this was 100 years ago, someone from Prekmurje would view a place like Niš as a different cultural sphere. Burek and cevapi and things like that are sold in Slovenia, the same way they’re sold in Czech Republic. Slovenians might be more familiar with the dishes, but they know that they aren’t part of Slovenian cuisine.
I know this is what they tell you not to do, but whenever you have doubts about Slovenia, think “would Slovakia have this/identify with this?” If the answer is no for Slovakia then it most likely is for Slovenia.
Sir0liver@reddit
this is quite true, but...
you have to keep in mind that there's A LOT OF Serbs and Bosnians live there, so they add that "balkan spice" to the country 😄
Efficient_Resource15@reddit (OP)
I have seen everything from people saying they are totally balkan, to just half, to not at all, even calling them little austrians or saying they are southern czechs/slovaks. As a romanian I haven't had any proper interaction with them and even our media doesnt and pop culture has no connection to Slovenia so I am just trying to learn more
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
They may claim to be Balkan when it comes to partying but that’s only because Serbian music became something acceptable to blast in clubs during Yugoslavia. It would be the exact same thing in Slovakia if it was part of Yugoslavia too.
Otherwise than that - folk music, dance, costumes, traditional foods, climate, history… they’re up there with the Czechs. There’s even hypotheses (albeit, mostly discredited) that Slovenes are West Slavs (like Polish, Czech, Slovak) but that they were “absorbed” by south slavs.
Linguistically it’s not too stable of a theory, but even in myths there’s a bit of truth
crivycouriac@reddit
I would not associate us with Czechs. They are the most hardcore Israel supporters quite unlike us
PrayForCheese@reddit
That is true, unfortunately. But we're not all that bad! Besides, I think the support for Israel is stronger within our government than amongst the general population, especially in the recent years.
NightZT@reddit
Is support for Israel there a mainstream position in the general population?
crivycouriac@reddit
Indeed
NightZT@reddit
Wow that's sad
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
Oh do they support Israel? Ew
That opinion aside… I would not associate you guys with Serbs or Bulgarians. More like Slovaks and Polish
crivycouriac@reddit
Czechs are the most hardcore of Israel supporters. Almost like their whole nationhood of loving Israel.
lesalesa23j@reddit
Interesting how almost all protestant/calvinist countries are very pro israel…
NightZT@reddit
It's sad how true this assessment is. I'm a protestant myself and one time I went to church the priest was rambling how Israel will crush the muslim "invaders". 3/4 of my family is catholic however so I'm also quite often in the catholic church and the priest there talked about all the inhuman things Israel does to the Palestinians.
It very well aligns with the protestants being constantly on the wrong side of history. Where I'm from there was also a very significant difference in nazi party membership between protestant villages and catholic villages
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
I was not aware of this. That’s awful. They have a duty to inform themselves better.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
We are not balkan and thats that
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
But nobody identifies as Central Europe. There is no Central European culture.
This term isn’t a thing in Austria, nobody would claim here he is Central European.
They are perceived as Balkan, just less aggressive.
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
And you’re the authority on that?
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
Are you guys trolling ?
Do you honestly believe any German speaker identifies as Central European, like he would say he’s actually Central European in an actual conversation?
This term you see maybe on the internet but in reality nobody uses it, as mentioned there is no Central European culture (like there is no Balkan culture)
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
There is no Balkan culture. I guess we should shut down this subreddit then, just like someone must have shutdown r/AskCentralEurope ! (Of course there is a Balkan culture, and it’s obvious to anyone that lives here. Central European culture - nah, never heard of that.)
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
what is balkan culture ?
strong family ties, intense hospitality, superstition is not unique to balkan people.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
Well, you’re on the sub, so it’s a strange thing to ask. What you listed are all valid, but there are better authorities here to chime in (I’m just an adopted Balkan - so I know Balkan culture when I see it, [I know - not a real answer]). I’d start with Turkish coffee and cigarettes, roasting anything you can on wood fires, heavy Turkish influence, intense pride in independence, really shitty drivers that think road rules are for others. Nothing needs to be unique to a culture to make it a culture - it’s the conglomerate.
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
This just further strengthen my point there there is no Balkan culture (and I don’t mean that offensive at all)
sintavovy@reddit
Hungarians lived 150 years under Ottoman Empire, Slovaks and Slovens 0. Hungarians are more Balkan than Slovenians.
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
Slovaks for ~150 years
sintavovy@reddit
Nope, Slovakia, then known as Upper Hungary, was except for Filakovo and later Komárno and Nové Zámky, part of Habsburg Royal Hungary, not the Ottoman Empire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Hungary#/media/File:Central_europe_1572.png
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
Oh
I sourced the 150 years thing from this
sintavovy@reddit
I see, I understand now. The article about the Budin Eyalet mentions Slovaks living on the territory of the Budin Eyalet. These were Slovaks who lived south of the Slovak-Hungarian ethnic border, in what is today Hungary. The first map in the article states that part of northern Hungary (Principality of upper Hungary) was briefly a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire during one of the uprisings of local nobility, for two years. However, in reality, the Turks never physically occupied any territory north of the Slovak-Hungarian ethnic border, apart from Nové Zámky and Fiľakovo. They did carry out raids, but they never actually took control of those lands. Except for that short period of two years when it was a vassal state, the territory of Upper Hungary remained under Habsburg control the entire time.
akin111@reddit
As a Slovenian living in the Czech Republic, I would love to have burek and ćevapi available in every restaurant or bakery, just like in Slovenia.
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
My bad for not specifying I meant frozen food.
At least that’s how it was when I went to the Czech Grocery store. They had something like this
koxxlc@reddit
tipoftheiceberg1234@reddit
Eastern_Fix7541@reddit
the per capita consumption of Burek in Slovenia is enough to make this question relevant.
Toren6969@reddit
Tbh as a Czech I feel in Slovenia like I am at home. Even more than in Slovakia (minus the language). Like smaller and slightly more clean (more Austrian) home, but not stiff like Austria is.
I also like northern Croatia, but the vibe there Is defintelly different. Weirdly from my personal experience I see it like Slovenia = Czechia, Croatia = Slovakia and Serbia Is just Balkan version of Hungary.
Sir0liver@reddit
nice comparation 😄
PrayForCheese@reddit
As another Czech, I feel totally the same!
WoodenGene8881@reddit
aaaaaaaa great comparison
Sir0liver@reddit
i would say - it WOULD be if half of their population weren't Bosnians and Serbs... 😄
source: I live 9km from Cro - Slo border 😄
jemalo36@reddit
Geographically diverse, being Mediterranean–Balkan, Alpine and Pannonian.
While Slovenian is it's own isolate slavic language detached from Serbo-Croatian, there is a continuation of cultural traces from previous peoples (Latin, Celtic,…), as well as influences from Austrians and Hungarians. To me Slovenia has always been an oddly "perfect" country. Italy should give them Triest and Coratia Istria, because Slovenia has been so nice.
Dangerous-Pea-8392@reddit
Ask Melania!
xripkan@reddit
You can't go from Austria to proper Balkans
You need a transitional zone. This is Slovenia
7amdrei7@reddit
Graz is more balkan than Ljubljana or Istria.
duskygrouper@reddit
As someone living in Graz, I can't confirm that. But Ljubljana and Istria are not really Balkan either.
Valuable_Pick_9704@reddit
Vienna is Balkans wdym
duskygrouper@reddit
Compared to what? Berlin? Yes. Belgrade? Not even close.
AdRevolutionary8413@reddit
Berlin is more Balkans than Vienna lol
Secret-Emergency-806@reddit
it’s not
AdRevolutionary8413@reddit
You're right, it's more like Africa lol
Secret-Emergency-806@reddit
it’s not
psica-presrana@reddit
No it's not tf
maocheiadenada@reddit
That's absolutely not true lmao
adude995@reddit
why?
7amdrei7@reddit
It just feels more "balkan" than Ljubljana. And Istria is just italian.
I thought this is what we are doing here, deciding which countries "feel" balkan.
Because other than feel, Slovenia has nothing to do with the Balkan peninsula. Same as a bunch of other countries (Romania, Hungary, half of Croatia, half of Serbia etc).
Specialist-Juice-591@reddit
At least the southern parts is geographically Balkan
int23_t@reddit
Ljubljiana itself is geographically in Balkans, can't say the same for Zagreb, so there is that.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Ljubljana is geographically not in Balkan.
Specialist-Juice-591@reddit
Ljubljana maybe not, but southern Slovenia is, whether you like it or not my slavic brate
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Southern Slovenia is in Balkan geographically? How exactly? By what definition?
Ps: funny how you used Serbocroatian and not Slovenian. You think we are “brothers” yet you have no knowledge of Slovenian culture, history or language
Specialist-Juice-591@reddit
By what definition is it not? Just look at a map brate.
I don't need to know your language to state facts. Just check the gene pools and you will find out something that you won't like as it seems.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
By geographical? The northern border is made up of rivers Kupa, Sava and Danube.
Just check DNA studies and you will see Slovenians are Central European, not Balkan.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
I'm curious, what's the geographic border of Balkans?
int23_t@reddit
Apparently I was wrong I thought it was south of Danube and Sava but after Sava it goes to another tributary of Sava so neither Ljubjliana or Zagreb is in Balkans
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
That's from your link.
There's no geographical definition since Balkans isn't a geographic term. Both Zagreb and Ljubljana can be a part of Balkans if you choose a definition that supports that.
int23_t@reddit
South of Danube is widely agreed on, but after Danube and Sava split it's not. Though the map on the link is aupposed to be the most common definition, so Danube Sava Krska is what they have.
Balkans is a geographic region btw, your claim about it not being geographic is totally wrong, it's a peninsula. The problem is peninsulas have arbitrary definitions.
But apart from river Sava, what would you suggest the northern border of Balkan peninsula to be? You can't do danube that includes as far as Budapest. Maybe you can go with Drava but while peninsulas inland borders are not defined it's sea borders are defined(to at least be on sea) so you would somehow need to turn the Drava border to the Adriatic sea at some point.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
Nope, geopolitical only.
It's not, that's why its impossible to define it's geographic borders.
Even the link you chose says so. Here's two examples, but there's more:
You can choose what ever criteria you want since Balkans isn't a geographical term.
int23_t@reddit
The first paragraph of the wikipedia page of Balkans. Balkan Peninsula is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions.
The balkan Peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic sea
the borthern border of the peninsula is variously defined.
(a concrete geographical definition)
In all the comments I was refering to Balkan peninsula and not Balkans which may be the cause of confusion. The article never has disputes about the borders of Balkan peninsula, only on the borders of Balkans(the geopolitical, non geogeaphical term). If you refer to Balkan peninsula as something that exists it has concrete borders of Danube Sava and Kupa. If you reject Balkan peninsula as something that exists then it's definition is whatever you want sure, but if that's your case you shouls have specified it within your first comment.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
Yeah, of a region, not of a peninsula. You can define anything geographically, putting some arbitrary borders on it doesn't make it a peninsula.
Yeah, I know. I'm trying to explain to you that it's not a peninsula as it doesn't follow the definition of a peninsula. "Balkan Peninsula" isn't a peninsula eventhough it has peninsula in its name. It's an arbitrary geopolitical/historical/whatever region of Europe. It's explained multiple times in the article you're referencing, just read your source and this whole debate becomes pointless.
int23_t@reddit
I read the whole article, and when it talks about atbitrariness it always names it "Balkans" and not "Balkan peninsula", it mentions a few times that "Balkan peninsula" does not exist, which I realize is the case, but if we assume it exists it's definition is concrete. The arbitrarily defined thing is "Balkans".
"Balkans" does not have a definition. "Balkan peninsula" does not exist but has a concrete well defined definition.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
What do you mean if we assume it exists? Balkan peninsula is a name of a region, it's not really a peninsula. It's just an unfortunate name. So yeah balkan peninsula does exist, but it's just an arbitrary region wrongly called a peninsula. How can you assume something is a peninsula if it clearly isn't?
int23_t@reddit
Like I said, the wikipedia article deals with this problem by splitting the "geographical" and geopolitical regions. "Geographical" region is called Balkan Peninsula, and has the concrete definition of times before geographers decided it'a not a peninsula(which is a relatively new thing) and Balkans is the geopolitical region.
"Balkan peninsula" is decided that it doesn't exist, but still has the historical concrete definition. "Balkans" never had a concrete definition. You can fix every issue in this debate by using said approach, any modern (and therefore arbitrary) definition is for "Balkans", and the old incorrect geographical definition is for the non-existent term "Balkan peninsula"
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
So you are choosing a disproven definition because you like it? By that logic you can choose to believe in geocentrism, flat earth or anything really. What's the point?
int23_t@reddit
No, I am saying "Balkan peninsula" is not a term that exists anymore but if you use it has a definition and is different from Balkans. Also, geography is just arbitrary, it's not really a positive science, old definition of peninsula is not "disproven". You don't have proofs in geography. It's just widely agreed on to not use the old definition anymore, but every definition in Geography is arbitrary.
Europe being a continent has less geographical "proof" then Balkan peninsula being a term, while Europe apparently is a continent. Geography isn't maths. It isn't physics. It's not even as well defined as linguistics or sociology or psychology, it's basically philosophy with extra steps. And European "continent" is the prime proof of said thing.
So no, "Balkan peninsula" is not disproven, just someone thought it wasn't a convenient term.
And I like the definition so I will use it, cause any other definition feels too arbitrary, and I don't like arbitrary things. I like when borders are conveniently on mountains or rivers.
You are free to not agree with that, but you aren't free to say it's "disproven"
Geocentrism is not "disproven" either btw, you can model everything centered around earth. If you assume earth is a stationary observer then Sun orbits around Earth and Mars orbits around sun which orbits around earth. It's just not convenient to model things this way, so we defined orbits to be around the larger object. But as the objects get closer in size it gets arbitrary. Does Makemake really orbit Pluto, or does Pluto orbit Makemake, or do both orbit each other. The answer is, they both orbit their collective center od mass, and earth and sun both orbit their collective center of mass(which to be fair is probably inside sun)
Not that you should model everything around earth, there is a reason it's deemed inconvenient, it really is inconvenient for calculations and would be way more arbitrary then the largest object. But that doesn't mean it's disproven it's just outdated and inconvenient and nobody should model things like that.
from the wikipedia page of geocentrism. We just chose sun because it's convenient. Same goes for peninsulas. We chose definitions because they are convenient, both geocentrism and old peninsula are old and inconvenient but not "wrong"
The same can not be said for flat earth however. Flat earth is disproven by simply taking a photo of the earth from space. Or going around the earth. It's not just inconvenient, it's plain wrong.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
There is no definition that puts Ljubljana in balkan tho
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
I guess there are some definitions that include Slovenia, Hungary and Moldova, but as I said, it's completely arbitrary and holds no significance. There's basically no right or wrong definition since it isn't a geographic region. You can take Ottoman borders as the border, you can also consider the influence of Austria-Hungary and the influence of socialism to adjust those borders, but in the end it's fluid and dependant on context.
I do personally agree that it's insane to consider Ljubljana a part it, but I guess in some specific context it may make sense.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Putting Ljubljana in same region as Tirana, Belgrade, Sofia etc makes no sense to me.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
I do agree with you. I just think it makes no sense even without Slovenia
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Why does it make no sense?
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
Because it's not a geographic region. Putting even Zagreb and Sarajevo in the same region is wild, and that's far from the craziest example
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Zagreb and Sarajevo are in same region tho.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
I don't even understand what your point is. Zagreb and Ljubljana are in the same region also. Region are arbitrary
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Regions are based on historical, geographical and cultural factors
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
So you have no point, you are just trying to chat?
JRJenss@reddit
New Zagreb is in the Balkans tho.
Ronaldinjchina@reddit
There's no geographic definition of Balkan.
Leather-Substance-39@reddit
Romania defintely has some Southern Balkan part. And a Central European part (most of Transylvania), and an Eastern European part. Hungary is not Balkan, although Hungarians like to joke about being Balkan. They are not. Serbia is Balkan, Croatia halfway maybe.
romanianpagan@reddit
2nd this! Muntenia + Oltenia + Dobrogea are Balkan as hell
adude995@reddit
I agree on the balkan as feeling part.
I was just wondering what exactly makes you feel Graz more balkan than Ljubljana.
Graz more chilled than Ljubljana since it's not capital?
7amdrei7@reddit
I don't think Graz is more chill. Ljubljana is crazy small. And a lot of it is pedestrian. I found it more chill than all of Austria. People are also more chill in Slovenia, like a mix of Austrians and Italians.
I'm not saying Graz is "balkan", I'm just saying it is more than Ljubjana.
It has more brutalist buildings (like you find in former communist countries) and overall has a more similar vibe to Hungary / Transylvania. But I spent like a day there so it's really very subjective. I traveled to Ljubljana at least 10 times.
NightZT@reddit
Have you been mostly to Gries and Lend while in Graz?
GigachadKIVA@reddit
Gries is the center of foreigners. Source: I'm from Graz
blitzzardpls@reddit
Kebab central
7amdrei7@reddit
I don't know which areas those are. I stayed in the centre, in a semi-pedestrian area (there was a tram I think).
But I drove out of it and saw an outskirt with a bunch of old comunist-style apartment buildings. I know those are all over Europe but they are mainly associated with Eastern Europe. It gave me that vibe.
NightZT@reddit
Okay yeah I see, Graz was ruled by the socialist party for a long time in the 60s 70s and they built a lot of those block style apartments. They are now ruled by the communist party lol
NobleK42@reddit
Balkan is a state of mind ;)
ZenaMeTepe@reddit
This. I am there a lot and some parts of the town don’t look European anymore.
RichAssociate534@reddit
Go to Fužine and you will see balkan
STATUSReally@reddit
More balkan than the Balkan in Fuzine
supe3rnova@reddit
Lets be honest, half of Austrians behave far worst than any "bad" balkan, especily when they are drunk.
They cannot hold their liquer.
Admirable_Gas1653@reddit
Accurate, but I would add Croatia to the mix too
vrcekpiva@reddit
Ha, absolutely not.
Zagreb is wild in balkan mentality compared to Ljubljana or even towns close to border and Zagreb.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
Zagreb is populated with many people who (or whose family) are from definitive Balkan lands.
Gorluk@reddit
So is Ljubljana.
Efficient_Elk_5243@reddit
Immigrants.
Gorluk@reddit
Well obviously people who live in Zagreb whose family is not from Zagreb are also "immigrants", I completely don't get your point? It's same in Zagreb and in Ljubljana, only in Ljubljana apart from Bosnia immigrants there is a lot of immigrants from Serbia too.
int23_t@reddit
Zagreb is mostly not in the Balkan peninsula as it's north of Sava so checks out.
Efficient_Elk_5243@reddit
Please do not mix; "south from Sava/Danube = Balkan" & north from Sava/Danube = central Europe".
int23_t@reddit
I didn't mix? Zagreb is north of Sava, it's not in Balkans, that's what I said.
CajOdShamarelice@reddit
Geographically isn't, mentality wise it is. But no mater how you look at it, big parts of Croatia are both geographically and mentally Balkan, so I wouldnt put Croatia in the transition category just because it's capital city arguably isn't Balkan.
KPlusGauda@reddit
How to you define mentally Balkan? Curious to hear.
Admirable_Gas1653@reddit
Exactly that’s what I mean, Croatia is part of the transition zone
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Croatia is a real mix, not Slovenia
ZenaMeTepe@reddit
Except Austria is no longer Austria.
imonredditfortheporn@reddit
Wtf do you mean?
ZenaMeTepe@reddit
Go visit and you’ll see.
imonredditfortheporn@reddit
I live there and i can tell you it's very much austria still, including all the suderanten like you
ZenaMeTepe@reddit
I drive through Graz monthly and it looks a lot more "colorful" than before.
imonredditfortheporn@reddit
Well the racially uniform austria you may remember or have heard about was just a product of two world wars and a genocide in between, before that austria was also quite colourful and nowadays it is again. But that doesnt make it less austrian, its a real place not a tourist site
ZenaMeTepe@reddit
Doing business with Austrians and Germans has changed in the last 30 years, they both became less like they used to be and are more like, well.., unreliable, prone to deception. When people change, culture changes and then everything else. The old positive stereotypes no longer apply hence my claim Austria is no longer Austria.
DocOstbahn@reddit
Maybe the low-trust is created by people with a political agenda, and not by foreigners trying to exist.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Croatia is transitional zone, not Slovenia
AOspranc@reddit
Valid. Plus italian influence escpecially in cuisine !
ColonelSpreadum@reddit
Slovenia was a buffer state between Vienna and The othmans. and it shows. north of Ljubljana you have this german dialect and stuff
south is more balkan oriented. its weird because balkan influence doesn’t give a shit about modern borders.
and it shows in politics too. Slovenians can hardly agree on anything.
It is my unprofessional opinion that’s because half of slovenia was more under Austrian influence and south was more “team balkan”.
mijenjam_slinu@reddit
I'd say Slovenia is more central european than Austria.
CodewortSchinken@reddit
There is no need for a reansitional zone, because the Balkan effectively starts in Graz. Once you leave the Alps towards the southeast half finished brick houses with no plaster on start to pop up in the countryside.
martranje@reddit
this is not in slovenia, sorry
GroundZeroMstrNDR@reddit
rly? in austria there are definitely some
martranje@reddit
no no, the houses you are talking about are the victims of the balkan wars around ‘91-‘95 when people abandoned the villages and never returned.
GroundZeroMstrNDR@reddit
I'm talking about the houses someone started to build and is already living in but doesn't deem it necessary to plaster the house, at least not immediately and more often than not this turns into never
martranje@reddit
sorry as i said, not slovenia
RestaurantBoring417@reddit
The transition zone from the Balkans to Central Europe is Croatia, there is nothing Balkan about Slovenia
PeroCigla@reddit
I disagree
pawyderreale@reddit
Austria is arguably balkan, at least koroška
Ambitious_Foot2327@reddit
As an South eastern autrian I love the Transition Zone. Graz and Vienna has a big Balkan influence. Slovenia and northern croatia is very similar to us. It feels always like a Home away from Home to be in slovenia or Istria.
takepaws@reddit
Accurate answer
Euphoric-Ostrich5396@reddit
Slovenia is where central european civilisation meets balkan barbary.
-To quote a famous philosopher
Antibacterial_Cat@reddit
Everything that splashes on the eastern shore of the Adriatic belongs to the Balkans. Anyone who claims that there is a "Central Europe" is mentally ill. Therefore - Slovenia is in the Balkans.
Efficient_Elk_5243@reddit
Wrong, Everyone who claim that everything southern from river Danube & Sava is Balkan, or with other words that it is South-East Europe is mentally ill. Therefore - Southern part of Slovenia is on the B. "peninsula" which is more in Central Europe than Vojvodina which is not on B. peninsula.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
That isn’t supported by any definition. Anyone who uses word balkan ant ottoman invaders gave it is mentally ill. Therefore Slovenia is culturally, geographically, historically and genetically in Central Europe
lonelystar7@reddit
In my opinion we are mixture of Balkan, Central European and South European. We always been a crossroad so it only makes sense we are a bit of everything that's European. Pocket mini version of Europe.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
And what is balkan about slovenia?
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Just ask yourself how do you swear and you get the answer😉
Efficient_Elk_5243@reddit
Just ask yourself from where those curse words come from. It's Balkanized. 😉
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Weak argument 😉
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
I politely disagree. On contrary, those particular swears were not being used before balkanisation of Slovenians, for which this is a direct proof, specially considering that we share same linguistic origin.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Again. They do exist.
It is true that those words got STANDARNIZED and WIDESPREAD around Slovenia in casual speach in times of Yugoslavia.
Words like j*, p, k** go back to proto slavic so they existed long before Yugoslavia…we’re talking centuries earlier.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Yes, their versions do exist but that is irrelevant because they were not being used in the exact same manner as in the rest of Balkans before Yuga, as you say it yourself.
Which again proofs balkanisation in a certain linguistic sense.
At the end of the story, you feel as you choose to, you can consider yourself even Austrian if you wish…you wouldn’t be the first one (read Carinthian Plebiscite from 1920).
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Yes they are used in the same manner as in Serbocroatian speaking countries (not gonna say “the rest of the Balkans” because there is also Albania, Greece, Romania which don’t even speak slavic languages, not sure what’s the situation in Macedonia or Bulgaria with those words).
This isn’t really about “balkanization” as such but just result of Yugoslavia and stronger one-way influence of Serbo-Croatian language. For example, Serbo-Croatian has many Turkish words but you wouldn’t really call that middle easternization, would you?
I consider myself Slovenian and Slavic. It should be that complicated. Yugoslavia is long dead.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
No I wouldn’t, but I wouldn’t deny its cultural influence…which what we discussing here, specially since common assumption that Serbia is Balkan due to Turkish occupation. There is a bit of Yugo in you, don’t be so tight…I bet you went to some “Zaklonišče Prepeva” concert back in the times.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Cultural influence? We are talking about language not culture. Serbia is Balkan because of its geographical location, culture and history.
There is no “yugo” in me because I was born after 1991. I have literally no idea what you are talking about…
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Let me enlighten you then, a language is fundamental cultural trait.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
In “you” as Slovenia/Slovenians…not personally you
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
There is as much Yugo in “us” as Ottoman in “you”
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
To make such a statement, you would have to experience Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey which I am sure you haven’t.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Slovenia had 69 years of Yugo history. Serbia had cca 400/500 years of Ottoman history. Compare influences, they are incomparable looking at the depth and scale. Just take a good look at Serbian vocabulary (standard formal language not some informal slang words) or traditional/national dishes…
The level of influence isn’t comparable.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Btw it is 1991-1918, so 73 years.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
It’s actually 69. Do a proper research.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Kingdom if Yugoslavia was a successor of Kingdom of SHS. I do not remember any Slovenian king ruling it.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Again, do some research. Good luck and good evening
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Enlighten me please before you say fair-well at least, bro!
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So I guess your culture is Middle Easternised
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Instead of guessing check what I wrote above.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Glad you agree. Also I wasn’t “guessing”. It’s a phrase.
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
I do not agree, perhaps you need enlightenment about what influence means as well. I feel you are butthurt because “you” swear in Serbian, is that it?
And here we go with whataboutism, Ottomans, etc…classic “ace” card of our brothers from “over the Drina”.
The topic here is about Slovenia, you are free to open new feed with Ottoman-Serbian influence, otherwise you might be seen as trolling…
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
I don’t swear in Serbian. If anything that’s Serbo-Croatian. That’s how the language was called in Yugoslavia right?
ebjfid2468@reddit
I would say in general we are more central than balkan...I think because there are a lot of balkan people who live here and the cultural differences are very much apparent. That being said it depends on the family, some are more balkan, some are more central.
Resident_Heron_5490@reddit
Historically, I think we didn't see ourselves as Balkan, since we had more ties to Austria and Czechia especially inside the austro-hungarian Kingdom. After the founding of Kingdom of Yugoslavia and especially after WWII and federal Yugoslavia we had close ties to the Balkans proper and quite a lot of people migrated (and to some extent continue to do so), so now you can easily find Balkan music, food, slang... here, too. All in all, I'd say most ethnic Slovenes don't see ourselves as Balkan, but we have a considerable number of people with Balkan family ties and they're proudly Balkan.
SorryAd1377@reddit
Balkans is a mix of turkish and russian influence. There is no "balkan peninsula".
Slovenia is def not balkan.
Karantanija10@reddit
IT IS 100% CENTRAL!
WorldlinessSuch1013@reddit
I am not a Slovenian but a German who has travelled to Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In my opinion, Slovenia is clearly different from the rest of the Balkans. This is shown, for example, in the appreciation of public space: In Slovenia everything is super clean, modern infrastructure, no garbage. Unfortunately, this is different in the rest of the Balkans (Sorry, Croatia!)
Responsible-Swim-155@reddit
Don’t be such an egomaniac
Got2InfoSec4MoneyLOL@reddit
Mix of 3 actually
DrDaveC@reddit
Slovenia is blessed with an education system that descends from the one implemented by Maria Theresa of Austria and so is filled with spectacularly well educated and diligent people just like in the rest of Central Europe.
On the other hand arguing with your neighbors is a national pastime here just like in the Balkans.
BadBasik@reddit
In my experience, sober Slovenians are Central European, drunk Slovenians are Balkan...
On a more serious note, I look at them as orderly people that would still like some wiggle and freedom from time to time, definitely not like Germans.
Ok-Connection-3856@reddit
I take this question joyfully to share the until now most precise explanation grom good ol Slavoj
https://youtu.be/SGd63XOV3lU?is=c9PW0AoZFxtDUybs
Magget84@reddit
This should be the only answer ever given to this question
Janosh_Poha@reddit
I have never looked at the Balkan Peninsula as a "cultural thing." I have always looked at it as a Peninsula, as a geographical location. Therefore, yes. I see Slovenia as a Balkan state.
lipiancarlliam@reddit
Geography is outdated. Depanding on the definition, either most of Croatia and all of Romania doesn't belong in it or entire Romania, some Hungary and some Moldova belong. So, it's easier to explain it societally or culturally. This is where Žižek comes in. If you ask Serbians, we say the pure Balkans are southern of us. If you ask Croats, they say the Balkans start with us. If you ask Slovenians, Balkans start with Croatia. If you ask Austrians, Balkans start with Slovenia. If you ask Germans, Balkans start with Austria. If you ask Dutch, they don't really care about it.
CasperGwamm@reddit
Here in Zagreb we say that everything south of the Sava river is Balkans.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So Alps are in Balkan?
CasperGwamm@reddit
Are they?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
You tell me. Saying everything south of the Sava river is Balkan means that Alps and Alpine regions are Balkan as well
CasperGwamm@reddit
So all the Alps and Alpine regions are south of the Sava?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Not all but they are. So do tell me if Alpine regions are Balkan?
CasperGwamm@reddit
So now you're saying they're not?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Alps are most definitely not in Balkan.
CasperGwamm@reddit
So you're saying they're north of the Sava?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Also south. Sava originates in the Alps.
CasperGwamm@reddit
So they're in the Balkans; is that what you're saying?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Alps are obviously not in Balkan so using Sava as a border makes no sense at all.
CasperGwamm@reddit
Wait, didn't you say they were in the Balkans?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Stop trolling
CasperGwamm@reddit
Why did you even start then?
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
I thought we had a normal chat but I was clearly wrong
CasperGwamm@reddit
Took you this long to figure that out?
lipiancarlliam@reddit
By that definition, Slavonia, Slovenia and Vojvodina are all central Europe, not Balkans, which isn't physically inaccurate, but culturally nobody from eg. Poland would agree.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
That’s accurate for Slovenia. Polish people have no knowledge of slovenian culture
x-ploretheinternet@reddit
Bro the source of the Sava river is located in the north of Slovenia so most of the country would belong to the Balkan peninsula according to this definition
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Also Alps would be balkan
Ok_Chip_5921@reddit
Half of Slovenia is south of the Sava river though
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
The bordering rivers are Sava, Kupa and Danube. If you consider only Sava as a border that means Alps are in Balkan, which they are not.
MrDilbert@reddit
Istria is south of the Sava river, yet if there's a region of Croatia that would be the furthest from Balkan, that would be it.
CasperGwamm@reddit
We do it mostly to troll people living across the river.
NikoZGB@reddit
Trnje for the win
JRJenss@reddit
Knežija - pure mitteleuropa
JEFF_GAMEL@reddit
We have similar say here in Prague. Just...well...everything east of Prague is basically Asia
CasperGwamm@reddit
LOL 😂
No-Specialist-1435@reddit
your coast literally goes along half the balkan peninsula.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
But slovenia is not geographically in Balkan.
DifficultWill4@reddit
I always thought the opposite. If we look at the geographic terms, peninsula is supposed to be surrounded by water on three sides. And considering the Adriatic sea only goes up to around Trieste, Slovenia wouldn’t fit into this criteria
Janosh_Poha@reddit
A basic Google search will tell you that the territory is a geological peninsula
MiskoSkace@reddit
Kupa (Kolpa) joins Sava at Sisak, even below Zagreb, and flows on the border. Though I've always thought it's Ljubljanica-Sava-Danube.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Ljubljanica is not one of the bordering rivers. Kupa is.
DifficultWill4@reddit
A basic google search will tell you where Kupa (Kolpa) runs
Big_Virge@reddit
I think your basic Google search has confused you
ChickenInvader42@reddit
Now look where Kupa (Kolpa) is located.
OfficeResponsible781@reddit
It’s both tbh
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Slovenia is not part of the peninsula
_BREVC_@reddit
The Balkans lack all notable geographic features of a peninsula though. No isthmus, no maritime climate (because it genuinely isn’t surrounded by water)… what kind of a peninsula is defined by a river, after all?
Culture was always the major criteria for the Balkans, geography was an afterthought.
Janosh_Poha@reddit
A basic Google search will tell you that the territory is a geological peninsula.
_BREVC_@reddit
I will give you the benefit of a doubt and assume you are trying to say that the territory designated as Balkans has unique geological properties compared to the rest of Europe. It does not; the Dinarides are just another extension of Alpine orogeny, and the geology of the wider area is too diverse internally and not unique enough externally (compared to other regions of Southern Europe) to warrant some unique status.
If I give you the benefit of a doubt, that is. Otherwise you could also just be mixing geology with geography.
Crni_SKadu@reddit
Google search is the arbiter of truth then or what. Even in the provided definition there's room for interpretation given that Danube doesn't encompass the entire border (according to it most of Romania doesn't fall under Balkan), hence its northern border is a matter of debate. To imply that what constitutes Balkan doesn't have political baggage is highly ignorant on multiple fronts.
Whether or not balkan is a peninsula is actually a matter of debate actually and it comes down to how one defines a peninsula. My geology professor thaught us that a piece of land is a peninsula if you can draw a cross and all 4 lines touch a body of water. According to him Balkan therefore isn't a peninsula.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
They're Balkan.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
And you are Middle Eastern
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Ok, Balkaneros
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Sounds a bit self-hating …
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Not at all. You and your buddy DullBirthday here are the only ones who are getting triggered.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
You are jut trolling
DullBirthday6750@reddit
You don’t get a say. Its Central European culturally, historically and geographically
STATUSReally@reddit
Then go to Czechoslovakia forums 🤣🤣🤣
DullBirthday6750@reddit
People have to be corrected. Thats why im here
STATUSReally@reddit
I'd say in Slovenia you can find DÖNER/BUREK/ČEVAPČIČI/SLJADOLJED much more easier than in Belgrade/Zagreb/Skopje/Sofia/Thessaloniki/Athens/București so I don't know...they are dominating on every city/village centers... All bakeries and fast food are the same, no local variations or specialties idk... Also the towns are much smaller and feels like everyone is farmer...
Maybe I am wrong I am not an expert since I am not Slovene, maybe pure Slovenes are not čevapčiče, burek and kebab +farmers+passat... But this is my impression and based on that I am inclined to say really really Balkan
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Sljadoljed???? 😆😆😆that’s just icecream dude…we have many balkan immigrants who sell burek, kebab etc. No actual slovenian is doing that
STATUSReally@reddit
That is what I also say. Croatians, Serbians, Macedonians, Greeks, Bulgarians are also not doing that, and there there are way less kebab/icecream/doner/BUREK shops... To me these shops are "balkanizing" the surroundings, so Slovenia more balkanized? 🤔 🤔 🤔
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Sljadoljwd is just serbocroatian word for icecream so idk what your point is. First kebab/doner store in Slovenia was open in like 2010 or later. Ice cream places are ALL OVER EUROPE. Burek was brought to Slovenia by Balkan immigrants especially Bosnians and Albanians. The foods you mentioned have NOTHING to do with Slovenian cuisine. Except for sladoled (Slovenian word for ice cream) which is literally popular all over Europe and rest of the world. You have kebab store in Austria or Germany on literally every corner and they are WAY more common than in Slovenia so I guess those countries are getting Middle Easternized?? Slovenia is surely getting Balkanized because most of Balkan people refuse to adapt to local culture but that’s happening in every developed country.
STATUSReally@reddit
Yeah you can say that also all these countries are becoming middleeasternized. Meanwhile that is not the case in Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro, Albania/Kosovo which are focusing more and more on their authentic food, instead of buy all-in-one fast foods on every corner in the city centers
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Foreign food comes with immigration.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
You can find food from all around the world and in every country. Bad argument. And I don’t know what your obsession with Austria is. Fun fact we were actually crowned by the Habsburgs. Look up counts of Celje.
STATUSReally@reddit
Well not like in Slovenia and I have traveled the Balkans a lot. A LOT. BTW why would I be obsessed with Austria? 🤣
BTW 2, I looked these Counts of Celje and to me they sound like Austrians/Germans not Slovenians... unless Gerhard, Ulrich, Gebhard whatever hard is actually a typical slovenian name🤣🤣🤣
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counts_of_Celje
DullBirthday6750@reddit
They spoke slovene. Its literally from the city of Celje. Being ignorant won’t get you anywhere.
STATUSReally@reddit
I don't know, their names sounded not slavic to me. Don't care much about it.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Idk what to say to you man. You’re just dim.
STATUSReally@reddit
Whatever dude. I just stated my observations. If you want to see it ok, if not think like you are more Czech Republic or German or whatever instead of Balkan. To me that is a little bit funny to see ✌️
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
All names back then were written in German or Latin. Every single one of my ancestors before the 20th century had either a German or Latin name used in documents. As well as their last names. Not to mention that the concept of nationality didn't exist back then. They likely spoke both German and Slovene. German was the language of nobility in the HRE and Slovene was used to talk with locals.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Then what are you doing in the Balkans sub?
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Correcting people
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Ok, Balkan bro
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Cry louder. Jugo is dead and its not coming back.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
I'm not the one crying lol. You are here, getting triggered by every comment saying Slovenia is Balkan. You're the one crying.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
I like correcting people. Especially uneducated balkaners.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Wherever makes you happy, little Balkan bro
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
Brother likes to stir the shit…
STATUSReally@reddit
Hahahah
Panzerload22@reddit
Slovenia was apart of the German confederation so why wouldn’t it be considered central Europe?
Bogug@reddit
It doesn’t matter. It is slavic nation and that’s it. You can put it wherever you want. 😄
DuePositive8957@reddit
South austria
haskell_jedi@reddit
Both economically and culturally, Slovenia is far more central European--you can see it in the food, the trading partners, the beurocracy, and the civic society. Perhaps the best recent example is that Slovenia joined Schengen and the Euro in 2007, 16 years before Croatia and 17 years before Bulgaria or Romania (and still counting for other Balkan countries).
RomanMSlo@reddit
It's complicated. Yesterday, for example, I went to 3 km distant town in order to buy burek for my family. But I did it on public e-bicycle.
Black__Reaper@reddit
Public ebicycle is the defining factor here imo
PaintSad8795@reddit
It's more like poor north Italy.
Black__Reaper@reddit
Hardly so
alkorisno@reddit
By what metric? They are ethnicly slavs, their language is a lot more similar to exYu countries then germanic languages
Black__Reaper@reddit
Our exposure to Austrian and Italian cultures marked us far more than most people realise. It’s not all about ethnicities and languages, yknow
Ainulindalei@reddit
If the fact that most of Slovenia was part of the Habsburg hereditary lands for longer than parts of Austria itself does not tell where we actually sit, then let me tell you, the culture shock I had when visiting Serbia (one of the more "familiar" Balkan states) left me confused and with questions for weeks after the visit. I lived in Austria for 4 years and did not find anything strange, except the Viennese were a bit angrier. Even the burocracy was annoyingly familiar..
Lele_mood@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwDrHqNZ9lo
Poglavnik_Majmuna01@reddit
The only Balkan features of Slovenia are those brought to the country by foreigners in the 20th century.
They are not culturally Balkan in any way. You can argue about geography, but we all know that Balkans is determined by vibes rather than geographic boundaries.
Slimshadyhighschool@reddit
Exactly look also at the language, it is very similar to german, right? Nothing in common with croatian/serbian.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Its not similar to croatian or Serbian no
STATUSReally@reddit
Slovenian is not similar to Croatian, Serbian??? Are you for real 🤣🤣🤣
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Yes im for real. You can’t understand croatian or serbian if you speak Slovene. Maybe one or two dialects in croatia.
STATUSReally@reddit
That doesn't mean that they are not similar LOL. They are like 70% same, share same features, grammar, slavic group of languages etc... What are you like 2nd grader or? Learn something???
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
70% is obviously a lie
STATUSReally@reddit
Yes I was just responding to your delusional colleague above. It is a lie, in fact it is more than 70% similar with Croatian, especially in the border region where the dialects are virtually 90% same
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Haha hilarious. Croatians are unable to learn Slovenian even if you pay them. Meaning it is way less than 70%. Kajkavski dialect is the only one truly similar to Slovenian but at the end of the day that’s still a Croatian dialect.
STATUSReally@reddit
Yeah sure that Croatians are unable to learn Slovene 😂😂 even if they are paid 🤣🤣🤣 nice stories bro ✌️👌
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Yes they are unfortunately unable or they simply refuse it. They come to Slovenia and speak Serbocroatian. Not even once I’ve encountered a Croatian tourist bothering to produce a word in Slovenian.
STATUSReally@reddit
Well the tourists normally don't know the language of the visited country. If Croatians live in Slovenia and use Slovenian at work, daily interactions etc...I would presume that they would become fluent in 6months easily
Other than that Croatian/Serbian/Bosnian/Montenegrian language continuum is much more bigger and has a lot more speakers, so ofc they do not bother to learn, unless they live/work in Slovenia... It is the same everywhere - why would a German learn Swiss German or Tyrolean or Austrian - no use unless family reasons, everyone will understand him anyways
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
We would presume that as well but unfortunately not the reality.
Those are just dialects not real languages.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Your language is most similar to italian but you are not in the same region
Slimshadyhighschool@reddit
I get you, it’s not like Slovenia has a border with Croatia.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Slovenia borders two Central European countries and it’t not like it was for 1000 years part Central European countries
emuu1@reddit
That's just plainly not true, it's a slavic language and it's like 70% similar to Croatian, even more with the Croatian dialect of Kajkavian.
Slimshadyhighschool@reddit
I was ironic.
loleenceee@reddit
The funny thing is, in terms of demographics, they are becoming way more balkanic nowadays compared to when they had open borders with the “South”
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
And Germans are becoming more middle eastern
JRJenss@reddit
Well, in terms of demographics we are becoming more Hindustan than Balkan
StrudlEnjoyer@reddit
It's just a continuation of it.
RaspyRock@reddit
At my grandmothers time, they were Central Slavic European: There was Goulash from Hungary, Apfelštrudl or Šmorn akin to that served in Austria, also Backhendl… pohana kura…along with Radenska, the sparkling and healing water preferred by the royalty in Vienna… it was a melting pot of KUK culinary. Now we have Burek. But I like that too.
FauxBroJoe@reddit
Obligatory Slavic Žižek.
imonredditfortheporn@reddit
Thanks, that should settle things
Ahun_@reddit
You can see the bridge on the second picture of the op
Tsukee@reddit
Op knows....
Reasonable-Class3728@reddit
I didn't click the link yet, but I know what the video it is. (I will watch it again of course).
Hestmestarn@reddit
This is *sniff* the correct *sniff* take *sniff*
duskygrouper@reddit
Pinpoint.
Bobinho4@reddit
This is the only answer to this question. What's up with asking this question so often?
TiredOperator420@reddit
I love Slavoj Zizek <3
mj@reddit
When I visited the first time, I was surprised how austrian it felt. Slovenia is more central european than balkan, at least in my opinion.
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
You just gave a Slovenian or two a solid woody… 😉😂
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
You are so obsessed with us
Big-Vegetable4550@reddit
You've outed me! But yeah, I've been fascinated by Slovenia since first visiting 40 years ago.
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
When I’m in Croatia, I feel like I’m more Central European, more quiet, and just different. But when I’m in Austria, I suddenly feel Balkan, more relaxed, a different energy, just different again.
Many restaurants in Slovenia put cevapi and schnitzel on the same plate, and I think that’s a pretty good approximation of what we are…
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
There is no restaurant in slovenia that would put cevapi and scnitzel on the same plate. Don’t spread misinformation
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
Have you been to every restaurant there is in Slovenia? I’ve been to many where there were both on the same plate/platter.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
No they do not. I am Slovenian and I have NEVER seen that. There are some plates like “mesano meso” which doesn’t include schnitzel.
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
Yes they do. I am Slovenian and I have seen that quite a lot in Pomurje, Štajerska. And yes, some platters include everything from schnitzel, ribs, different grilled meat, roast, cevapcici …
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
I am Slovenian and I’ve NEVER seen that. Also if you have a school trip the default lunch is fries with either schnitzel or fried cheese. Not balkan food.
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
Here: https://www.facebook.com/100065056600277/posts/mesna-plo%C5%A1%C4%8Dale-dostava-na-dom-ali-osebni-prevzempokli%C4%8Dite-in-naro%C4%8Dite-svojo-najl/145267983970895/
Here: https://kuponko.si/kupon/za-gurmane-bogata-mesna-plosca-v-okrepcevalnici-zelena-dolina-ceneje-142060
... just a quick google search :D
Idk, in our school we had both schnitzel and cevapcici with ajvar, as well as burek, sarma, musaka ...
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Intresting. Very odd combination.
In my schools we never ever had Balkan food on the menu except for Moussaka occasionally. I didn’t even know what sarma is for the longest time and I’ve never ate it. Maybe your school had balkan cooks.
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
Nah, we didn’t have many foreign people in our town back then. It’s only since a few years that we have a huge influx of foreigners, mostly nepalese, indonesians and of course albanians (I like them in that exact order).
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Btw, that first link you sent. That’s not a schnitzel on the photo. That’s just fried chicken which is not the same as schnitzel.
MarrAfRadspyrrgh@reddit
True… but you get what I mean… those “quantity-over-quality-restaurants” often serve all on the same platter. I hate going there tbh, but from time to time I have to because a family member is celebrating their birth day, weddings, baptisms … hey, but at least the špricar is always good there :P
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
I’ve personally never see that. Just mixed grill which doesn’t include Schnitzel but I guess it depends on the place. I believe it’s called špricEr in Slovenian 😋
Ambitious-Toe67@reddit
it is both. its transitional zone between the two but historically and culturally its central european but lots of old people (that are mentally still in yugoslavia) and young people (especially those that listen to balkan music --> similar to rap culture in us) claim slovenia is balkan
TripleOtter@reddit
Central european buildings, balkan mentality.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
And what does Balkan mentality even mean?
TripleOtter@reddit
Good question, you got me, because I'm having difficulty writing it down. A sort of "fuck it, we're screwed anyway, so let's at least have fun while it lasts", connected with a strange tolerance to corruption ("everyone's doing it, so why not me") while being obnoxiously patriotic.
That, or I'm full of shit ;)
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Hmm can’t relate to that at all.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Nope
chunek@reddit
Hello from Slovenia, I consider it part of Central Europe, which is also how we define our country at Geography classes.
The reason being shared history, culture and also landscape. We have been part of the same entities as Austria since the Carolingian times, over a thousand years ago, been part of the HRE for its entirety, part of the Archduchy of Austria since the 15th century, our duchies used to belong to Inner Austria with the capital Graz, Maria Theresia played a major role in our early education, and the former path from Vienna to Trieste also influenced us greatly.
I don't know how to define Balkan, it used to have a negative connotation, for some it still does, for some it is a mindset of not giving a damn, hospitality, war crimes, generational ottoman trauma, "inat" - the spirit of defiance, spite, stubborness and pride (mostly serbian I think), doomerism, a black hole in Europe when it comes to progress, but it's not a geographical term. Recently there have been talks about "Western Balkan", a geopolitical term for non-EU exyu countries and Albania.
I think the true transitional country is Croatia, as they also were influenced by the Habsburgs, tho never part of Austria or the HRE. They had the Vojna Krajina (Military Frontier) in the north, right at our border, which defended Central Europe against the Ottomans for centuries. But they also had lots of migrations from Balkan, who fled from the Ottomans, so it is already more mixed and a mosaic of people, similair to BiH, tho to a lesser extent, and less so after what the Ustaše did and the exodus in the 90s. It is a very diverse country, the north looks and speaks similair to us, the coast has that ancient Mediterranean vibe, and Slavonija is like Vojvodina and Hungary.
I think we have been greatly influenced by Yugoslavia and its people who moved here and were not originally from here. We modernized during Yugoslavia and many workers rights and holidays are still kept today. We also still get migrants from other exyu countries, they become our friends, partners, family.. so in the end it becomes a mix, and if they are Balkan, then also Slovenia is becoming more Balkan. Some neighbourhoods or parts of cities are like a mini Yugoslavia, serbocroatian language everywhere, bosnian, serbian, albanian flags hung from backmirrors inside cars, balkan music, etc. You can buy burek and kebab everywhere, we eat čevapi at summer open fest parties where live polka music is played, etc. And many people love turkish coffee, tho coffee in general is popular.
So, when it comes to Balkan, the connection is mostly Yugoslavia, which has been gone for over three decades now. I would not call Slovenia Balkan for same reason as I would not call France north Africa. We have people who are from Balkan, we have been influenced by Balkan, but I don't think we share enough to be considered a part of it. The most bizzare thing would be to draw a cultural/regional border between us and Austria. Unless Austria is also Balkan, which some do joke about being true.. Personally I don't feel any connection, but it is a fascinating place.
crivycouriac@reddit
I personally think we’re a cultural island without all too much similarity with anyone. That being said, the periphery factor does make us more Balkan than not.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
What does make slovenia balkan? Balkan immigrants?
crivycouriac@reddit
This and the fact that it’s quite backward historically (and frankly even contemporarily)
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So more backward that hungary, slovakia etc?
crivycouriac@reddit
Well actually yes
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
In what sense?
crivycouriac@reddit
Slovenia’s current advantage stems from it not being under Soviet rule. Before that, Hungarians and even Slovaks were universally wealthier than Slovenes.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So it is currently more developed. Clear.
crivycouriac@reddit
So far
STATUSReally@reddit
Emerald_8XG@reddit
I'd rather say we are a cultural crossroad that is uniquely similiar to everyone at the same time. I guess the organically formed intersection of all those identities does make our culture a bit special in the end, though.
Bharny@reddit
If Slovenia is Central Europe, Croatia is aswell
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Croatia is half in balkan
Bharny@reddit
Slovenia is aswell
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
That’s geographically impossible.
xtimeport@reddit
Mixed
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
Not
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Central
Individual-Pipe-7521@reddit
If you have to ask “is this Balkan” it’s Balkan
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
So because of 69 years of yugoslavia is not slovenia balkan? There is not even anything balkan about slovenian culture
beleried@reddit
We like to think we are central European. But in reality we are Balkan af.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
And what is balkan af about slovenia?
dabears91@reddit
Northern Slovenia is not Balkan, southern Slovenia is the entrance.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
It’s really not
Living-Past-9038@reddit
We are balkans and central Europe at the same time. I would say culturally we are mix between Balkans, Central Europe and Southern Europe. Like vibe in Slovenia is mix between Austria, Italy and Croatia. We are introverted compared to other balkaners but extroverted compared to austrians, our food is mix of Austrian, Balkan, Italian and Hungarian influence, we are obsessed with sports and nature, we have this mentality that we dont care what happens as long as it doesnt bother me so we are more individualistic. Slovenian dream is house in the middle of nowhere without neighbours. I would say slovenians are bigger alcoholics than rest of Balkans.
Esdoorn-Acer@reddit
We are not balkaners. There is nothing balkan about slovenian culture.
Teabx@reddit
I have met some Slovenes and I think they do share some of the “balkan idiosyncrasies”, but they’re a bit more dialed down if that makes sense? I would consider them more central european that balkan, but this is based solely on those few individuals I have met.
Wise-General-9632@reddit
this is the only accurate answer ive seen, we have “balkan culture” but just not as much as the other balkan countries, if you go to a village the balkan vibe is there but it isn’t the same as in Bosnia, it is way less but still not zero.
Efficient_Resource15@reddit (OP)
I myself having only seen Slovenia from within my car travelling to italy I felt it looked closer to austria than any places in the balkans.
Closest I can compare it to is romanian transylvania which isn't even balkan, i'd dare say southern romania looks very balkan compared to either of them.
But I still know little qbout the local culture and how people behave and their overall identity.
Electrical_Art_4196@reddit
I am from Germany and travelled through all the former Yugoslavia countries and also to some other Balkan countries and I say Slovenia is in terms of culture, infrastructure, organization, economy, wealth and general vibes way closer to Germany than it is to most other Balkan states like Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro.
teki4s@reddit
Someonesbiggestfan@reddit
Depends on the city honestly
General-Anywhere7168@reddit
Can it be both? 👀
DullBirthday6750@reddit
No
Kata_Komb@reddit
By what parameter? There is no all-encompassing parameter to make such classification. Mostly people go by culture and culturally they are Slavs.
Cankarcek123@reddit
As a Slovene, I wouldn't say we're Balkan. Only southern parts are actually located on the peninsula in geographic sense, our culture is nothing like Balkans. Well čevapčiči, we'll skip that
KendaJ99@reddit
We like to think we're central European but we have too much corruption to not be Balkan.
linglos@reddit
They were subjects of the Austrians for centuries, they were shaped by them. And they're proud of their affinity to the german culture. So, yes, they're central Europeans
Bondguy_25@reddit
It is Transleithalia
The-Bear-and-Rose@reddit
I don’t think of Slovenia, Hungary, Romania or Greece as culturally Balkan.
Efficient_Resource15@reddit (OP)
I am from romania and i would say southern romania is, moldova and especially transylvania no though
Junior_Ad7907@reddit
https://youtu.be/bwDrHqNZ9lo is the correct answer
Super-Owl2829@reddit
it’s funny Ottomans even invaded Slovakia but not Slovenia
witty_charade@reddit
we are not balkan
Glavurdan@reddit
Oh they are very much Balkan, the latest elections proved that
mcherycoffe@reddit
Well Slovenia is a crossroads of Central Europe, pannonian plains, forest, and the small adriatic sea coast. But Slovenia has been influenced by austrian, german culture in at least 800 years, and had never been a part of the Ottoman Empire unlinke others of his neighboors. If you go to Ljubjana, the city can be considered
AP_dreamer@reddit
I consider Slovenia as part of the Balkan Peninsula, but overall we are a bit of a mix of Balkan and central Europe. This goes for the culture, architecture and our behaviour I would say. It also varies from area to area, but personally I would say we are more Central European. 🤷♀️
trisul-108@reddit
Technically, the Balkan Peninsula is not even a peninsula. And if Slovenia is a part of it, then so is Italy because the line would go from Trieste ... avoiding most of Slovenia.
Desert_Stride@reddit
Wait wdym, trieste is slovenian! I'm joking of course;)
Alternative_Device38@reddit
a_regular_2010s_guy@reddit
We be both
Fit_Leave_335@reddit
work like central European, party like Balkan
UnfairWindow9387@reddit
In general there is a lot of debate amongst people, it really depends, personally I am from the Gorenjska region and we really don't identify with the balkans.. we've got a lot of balkan immigrants here though, so we are all familiar with "balkan culture" in some way or the other and have balkan friends
Sweet-Bed2076@reddit
Define what Balkan means so we can debate, because for different people means different thing
Big_Match_4773@reddit
Well, I'm not Slovenian, I'm from Hungary, but it's enough just to pass the border and I'd say Slovenia is western Europe. Might be something to do with historically being part of the Holy Roman Empire , Venice, etc. It's even better than Austria in some regards! Definitely not Balkan except the warmth of hospitality, not eastern-central Europe either, it's a unique maxed out version of that. Ljubljana is one of my favourite cities, it's just an all around lovely country.
Steinar8@reddit
It's in Central Europe.
KronprinzRudolf@reddit
Until 1918, noone would describe Slovenia as a part of the Balkan. Then Yugoslavia happened.
DullBirthday6750@reddit
And now jugo is dead
10000S00001@reddit
Slovenia is 100% Balkan!
The Balkan starts in Vienna 😉
DullBirthday6750@reddit
It starts with Croatia.
Past_Magazine_8796@reddit
Balkan starts at Munich East Bahnhof. Slovenija is 100% Balkan.
observatorystory@reddit
In recent years we have become more Balkan than we were a decade ago.
DctrJTAssassin@reddit
its a mix of your mom
wanderingtaoist@reddit
Slovenia is what Italy would look like if it was run by Austrians. Great food, laid back (or perhaps Laibach?) atmosphere, stylish people, but in a country that actually works (unlike Italy).
ApplicationBig1676@reddit
Neither geographic or demographic Slovenia never was paet of Balkans. Only time in history that was part of some Balkan stuff was during Yugoslavia.
Slovenia is part of central Europe.
STATUSReally@reddit
RetiredBy30orDead@reddit
They are wealthier than the germans i cant fathom how the did it.
DrDoom40@reddit
Slovenia sounds like Slavic country but looks more like an Italian-austrian one
Warm_Researcher_5721@reddit
I would say it's mixed. They're most similar to northwestern Croatia overall. Geographically it's mixed too:
tfojemama@reddit
Croatia is not real Balkan as well....
Zigonce@reddit
The Kolpa river divides man and beast
Federal-Routine7619@reddit
Imaginary_String_814@reddit
They are Slovenian.
There is no Balkan culture, neither Central European one.
sarmoman@reddit
They are balkans pretending to be something else but in the end the truth always surfaces
Infinite-Top-2609@reddit
I live abroad and when i visit slovenia i always fly to Vienna and continue with train from there. When i land in Vienna i fell like: "this balkan. Home near." Especially when i can choose whether to order a cup of coffe in german or bosnian. So yes. Everything below Vienna- balkan.
Expensive_Bus_6576@reddit
Not balkan. You have quite a large % of balkans living in slovenia, but slovenians are not balkan. Way more in common with austrians than with balkans. Also mentality is anti balkan. But yeah, a large % of population are balkans going to "switzerland". 😂 native slovenians are not balkan.
Adeptass@reddit
It's not as complicated as it sounds. Balkans is where Orthodox Christians live subjugated by the Ottoman Empire.
Central Europe is where the Germans settled and Western Christianity ruled.
Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary: Central Europe, not Balkans Voivodina, Transsylvania: transitional zones Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, and everything southwards: Balkans
viachlelover@reddit
I think I once saw like a map of balkans and Slovenia is like "transition" zone- 50 is central 50 balkan so it's up to you to choose if it's balkan or not
Normal-Cook-2946@reddit
Germans from temu
Repulsive_Work_226@reddit
Germany and Austria pressured EU for Slovenia to be a member state in 2004. They don't see Slovenia and up to a degree Croatia different than Czech or Hungary.
Fit_Cost_9304@reddit
It's central but getting run over Albanians for the past few year's before there where a lot of ex yugo ppl coming now they are looking for ppl that speak Albanian in a country that speaks Slovenian
PutinSama@reddit
left side of the river is balkans right side is central europe
Alternative-Prune318@reddit
Slovenia is a country of slaves that adapted to every occupator. It has very quickly adopted American values and is in my eyes basically a micro version of America.
Gizmo77776@reddit
First Slovenians is written with capital S. ;)
Yes, they are more Central European than Slovakia.
It is only because they border Austria.
You can measure that in any atlas. :)
Thank you for asking such a glorious question.
Ujemegaz@reddit
You waited all your life to reply so valiantly.
Gizmo77776@reddit
I could have gone to history but yawn....
But who knows maybe Albania will be locomotive of The Balkans in next century?
The term Balkan is quite comical.
You can have Balkan in Vienna as well if we want to make a theory.
And relax good sides of The Balkans ah they will one day outweight bad sides.
Piss-frog@reddit
They are just our gay Balkan brothers
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Cope. You will never surpass us in any metric
DullBirthday6750@reddit
Slovenia is Central European and nothing else
HowHappyWorld@reddit
Slovenija is small Yugoslavia with all balcanic nations mixed together. Spectacular. Lets say developed Balkan.
gebruder_weiss@reddit
You can go into Google Street View and make a test.
Go alongside the border of Croatia and Slovenia, and find villages on both sides of the border.
Try to into a Slovenian village, you will think you are in Switzerland, for the most part. The grass is perfectly green and manicured, roads are perfect, road markings are beautiful, houses are all finished and have beautiful decorations around.
Then try going into a Croatian village, you know you are in the Balkans. Why? Unfinished homes, one way roads without markings, parkings are made out of dust, and not asphalt. Grass is green but yellow on edges, etc etc. That style of Croatian villages repeats in all Balkan states + Hungary, and you can clearly see it.
So no, Slovenia is not a transitional zone, in some places it looks better then Austria and closer to Switzerland, just with better vibes.
dumr666@reddit
coming from Slovenia, Balkan 100%, or 95%, but still balkan. People are denying it, but deep down we all know its true, but don't want to admit.
hruhru@reddit
Rage bait.
ts405@reddit
why? what’s wrong with the balkans?
Orthodox-Paradox@reddit
The real answer is gypsies (not ethnically but culturally)
Excellent_Theory1602@reddit
Yep
Remarkable-Item8390@reddit
Bulgarians
dwartbg9@reddit
Huh?
Best-Ad-1223@reddit
Yes, we're the source of all that is evil and wrong in the Balkans. Our apolpologies.
edible_string@reddit
The bridge on the second picture is exactly where the border is
SpartanKing76@reddit
Slovenia is edge of the Balkans. There are similarities especially due to its Yugoslav past and common language and close ties. At the other end you have Greece. Geographically some of it is in the Balkans and also the north has some cultural links but large parts of Greece are a million miles away from the traditional Balkans. Take for example Mykonos or Paros they have more in common with Fiji than Kosovo.
bigelcid@reddit
Dude...
Do we know what a continuum means?
edible_string@reddit
I don't know if we do, do you?
zibo12@reddit
I think they are more central european than balkan..
standbymeme@reddit
I’m Slovenian ethnically but born in Australia, and having been a few times to the villages my family are from there is 100% more similarities in the vibe with Croatia then there is with Austria. I think the food and also the architecture of old town Ljubljana is more Central European so Slovenians like to use that as examples of why they are not Balkan, but they are to me definitely still Balkan (but as someone else said, the transition zone)
SoundConfident3925@reddit
You're confusing poverty with culture. Nearly 90% of Slovenian towns possess a medieval, Central European core identical to those found in Austria or Bavaria. And the vibe you're talking about isn't Balkan, because be sure we in Slovenia and Croatia (some parts) still commonly eat sauerkraut, a clear indicator of our connections with Sarajevo or Istanbul.
Honestly i bet my head, you never seen Slovenia not even on yt video. Čefur.
Particular_Acadia545@reddit
I think food/architecture wise it is hard to have it as a reference for „balkan“. Balkan should be geographically peninsula, and both Slovenia and Croatia are partially in it. With state of mind - i think it is both mixed. As a Croatian I put Croatians like 60% balkan. We have different regions, different architecture (Dalmatia vs Zagorje vs Slavonija vs Zagreb vs Istria vs Lika) and with that we have also have different food. Thinking of „balkan“ food, i would think heavy food like sarma, filled paprika, which I think dominates in Slavonija. Dalmatia/Istria has a lot sea food and then I would take it out as „Mediterranean/Adriatic“ compared to saying we are „Balkan“.
Ok_Tie_7564@reddit
While different parts of Croatia are very different from each other, I found the north-western part of Croatia (Zagorje) quite similar to Slovenia. Even their dialect (Kajkavski) sounds similar to the Slovenian language.
Defiant_Ad9767@reddit
Affectionate_Kiwi719@reddit
Only real use of term would be how they even started to use it, for politics.
Geographicly, def not.
Culture and history def not.
Never been under ottomans so could not be Balkan, def not during 1848 when it was used at Berlin Congres.
Only similarities is theres bunch Serbs and other there so they make it look like more Balkan.
RichAssociate534@reddit
We did not experience the war and war crimes from Serbia so our culture is not fuck up
DerpaNet3000@reddit
I have never been to Slovenia, but I play a lot of Geoguessr. In Slovenia I always get more Austrian vibes than Balkan vibes. By that I mean landscape, architecture, etc
MMortein@reddit
I think the border between the Balkan and "Europe" would be the Croatian and Slavonian military frontier
M3z0polis@reddit
It depends. If you go to parlament Pub in L'ingrés i Trg a Friday it's Austria. If you go a Wednesday is Bosnia.
SummersCold@reddit
https://youtu.be/bwDrHqNZ9lo
Particular_End_4917@reddit
Slavic European. Not balkanese
Acolyte_Truth_Seer@reddit
I travelled across majority of Slovenia 2 summers ago and it's the perfect combination of slavic, italian and germanic. Generally quite unusual compared to the other slavic-speaking countries
nickthesysadmin@reddit
27% of Slovenia is in the Balkans, practically based on the way of living they are Austrian, The fact that Croatia is their neighbor makes them very Balkan, the other item is 😂😂😂 all southern countries are fucking balkan and there aint a single thing you can do about it. The moment you cross the alps and pass Pyrenees you are in the Lazy countries, all tomato countries are like that, we say balkan I say south 😂 From Portugal to Romania and Bulgaria its freaking: we can do it later lands and go slow allow your self some time to think therefore 😂 Balkan. All drink and eat
Obladamelanura@reddit
Depends on region, bit no. National music is oberkraineg alpine music, national sport ski jumping amd skiing, national food krainer sausage potica nad struklji. But there is a lot of imigtants who make this picture a bit more balkan. In my region nobody thinks we are balkan as we eat weiner schnitzel and beef soup on sundays.
fireswalkwithme@reddit
TIL Slovenia has access to the sea! Dafuq
Emyhatsich@reddit
Yes. They are catholic, not orthodox. Used to be part of Austria - Hungary. Has close ties with Austria. Same could be said about Croatia. No strong ottoman influences. This is one of the reasons they are more developed.
CocoonNapper@reddit
When you bring as much order, meintenance, and structure as Slovenia has done in the last 20 years, you slowly drift away from the Balkan label. You're just too "snobby" at this point...
TheLeopardMedium@reddit
As a third-party traveler, Slovenia is absolutely more Central European than Balkan.
But don’t misinterpret that. I prefer the Balkans to Central Europe.
electrash_@reddit
As Croat leave them from Balkan. It’s far better for them
Briefcase-3695@reddit
MatchaAzra@reddit
They were never part of the ottoman empire which leads to a lot of cultural differences compared to the rest of the balkans. I think it is more periphery than balkans. But I do not really care if they consider themselve balkan or not. If they want to, fine with me. I just have very bad feelings towards slovenian people who act like the southern balkans are babaric compared to them. So I think there are very different perspectives on it, some people do everything to be middle european while others consider themselves balkans.
AstrophysicalP@reddit
This daily question and daily comment section argument makes Slovenia Balkan
TwNuOn@reddit
Yes, Slovenia is more like Czech Republic or Slovakia to me
v_rex74@reddit
Slovenian culture and mentality is pure central Europe. Problem is, they have great number of serbs, bosniaks and albanians who are dragging them down.
Street-Bluebird-5233@reddit
That is a Geographical limit between Balkan and Mittle Europa
Below horror, oriental despotism, Wymen get beaten get raped like it, above South Europe civilization wymen get beaten get raped but don't like it, remember Balkan - mittle Europa, don't forget it
Eastern_Fix7541@reddit
snif
Legitimate-Record90@reddit
Miss Melania Trump is from there so it’s known as the “brains of the Balkans”.
mladokopele@reddit
Interesting I thought she's Bosnian.
Legitimate-Record90@reddit
She’s not that intelligent 🤣
medved76@reddit
Sweet Jesus.