lovene Political Catholicism between World War I and II (Regarding the archival Legacy of Dr. Engelbert Besednjak)

Abstract

Author reveals new views regarding the ideological and political orientation of the Slovene Catholic Party between World War I and II, based upon the hitherto inaccessible archives of Dr. Engelbert Besednjak, a leading Christian social politician of the Primorje (Littoral) region. He compares the political development within the Catholic Party in Ljubljana with the one on the other side of the Rapallo border, in Venetia Giulia during the fascist regime. Despite different developments on both sides of the border there were numerous personal, political, and other ties which present a uniform image and history of the Slovene catholic movement regardless of the political (Rapallo) border. While in the 30s the prevalent majority within the catholic movement in Ljubljana is the uncompromising right wing, the concepts of which are similar to those of fascism, the Slovene Catholic Party in Venezia Giulia opposes and fights fascist dictatorship. These opposing viewpoints became even more evident during World War II.