Regional Differences, Slovene National Identity, and the Foundation of the Slovene State

The Slovenes formed both their country and their national identity under Austria-Hungary. Until the end of the nineteenth century, they perceived themselves mainly as residents of historical provinces whose formation can be traced back to the Middle Ages (i.e., as Carniolans, Styrians, Carinthians, or Istrians), and at the supranational level as loyal subjects of the Habsburg Monarchy. The national program created in 1848 did not extend beyond demands for Slovene autonomy and the use of their own language.