Migration crisis in the Republic of Slovenia, 2015-2016: ethno-cultural aspect

For the first time in Russian and international science, a study of the ethno-cultural aspect of the 2015-2016 migration crisis in the Republic of Slovenia has been conducted, and the present article discusses its results. The study draws on mass media, opinion polls, discussions in social media, and a number of Slovenian scientific publications. The methods used to collect and process primary information on the migration crisis in Slovenia included following relevant events, observing and interviewing Slovenian volunteers/aid workers, and using sociological methods to identify the causes, goals, and migration factors involved. The study shows that the majority of those who came to Slovenia, the smallest country in Central Europe, leave before they receive residence permit. This means that refugees are not interested in staying in the country permanently - for them it is only a transit zone. Due to the prolonged economic crisis and lack of financial resources, and to the fact that the police, the army, civil defense, and the Red Cross were not adequately prepared to deal with the situation, Slovenia found itself facing some serious problems associated with the large numbers of refugees coming to the country. The article presents the dynamics of the migration crisis. Special attention is paid to the reflection of Slovenian society and the media on the events that took place. It is concluded that the society was divided roughly in half, with the one part of it supporting the wire fence on the Slovenia borders and the other one strongly disapproving of that. The public opinion on the introduction of new ethnic cultures into the society, the settlement of migrants in Slovenian cities and homes, the provision of benefits to migrants and allocation of quotas for receiving refugees was found to be equally divided.

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