Even three years ago it would have been impossible to imagine that Slovenia could ever aspire to achieve full independence, but this is what has happened. Unlike her neighbour Croatia, it has been done with virtually no loss of life.

Thirteen years after independence from the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has become one of the most advanced transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe and will become a member of the EU in May 2004. This publication examines the country's recent political and socio-economic history, its transition to a market economy and the challenges that lie ahead. It includes contributions from Slovenia's president, a former vice prime minister, the current and previous ministers of finance, the minister of European Affairs, the current and former governors of the Bank of Slovenia, as well as from leading development scholars in Slovenia and abroad.

What are public health services? Countries across Europe understand what they are or what they should include differently. This study describes the experiences of nine countries detailing the ways they have opted to organize and finance public health services and train and employ their public health workforce. It covers England France Germany Italy the Netherlands Slovenia Sweden Poland and the Republic of Moldova and aims to give insights into current practice that will support decision-makers in their efforts to strengthen public health capacities and services. Each country chapter captures the historical background of public health services and the context in which they operate; sets out the main organizational structures; assesses the sources of public health financing and how it is allocated; explains the training and employment of the public health workforce; and analyses existing frameworks for quality and performance assessment. The study reveals a wide range of experience and variation across Europe and clearly illustrates two fundamentally different approaches to public health services: integration with curative health services (as in Slovenia or Sweden) or organization and provision through a separate parallel structure (Republic of Moldova). The case studies explore the context that explain this divergence and its implications. This study is the result of close collaboration between the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the WHO Regional Office for Europe Division of Health Systems and Public Health. It accompanies two other Observatory publications Organization and financing of public health services in Europe and The role of public health organizations in addressing public health problems in Europe: the case of obesity alcohol and antimicrobial resistance (both forthcoming).

Declining trade with the rest of Yugoslavia hurts Slovenia's short-run prospects. But in the long run Slovenia may benefit from greater macroeconomic stability, freedom from subsidizing less- developed regions of Yugoslavia, and speedier integration with Western Europe.

No two markets for voluntary health insurance (VHI) are identical. All differ in some way because they are heavily shaped by the nature and performance of publicly financed health systems and by the contexts in which they have evolved. This volume contains short structured profiles of markets for VHI in 34 countries in Europe. These are drawn from European Union member states plus Armenia Iceland Georgia Norway the Russian Federation Switzerland and Ukraine. The book is aimed at policy-makers and researchers interested in knowing more about how VHI works in practice in a wide range of contexts. Each profile written by one or more local experts identifies gaps in publicly-financed health coverage describes the role VHI plays outlines the way in which the market for VHI operates summarises public policy towards VHI including major developments over time and highlights national debates and challenges. The book is part of a study on VHI in Europe prepared jointly by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. A companion volume provides an analytical overview of VHI markets across the 34 countries.

Slovenia is regarded today as a free country and consolidated democracy, with some problems with corruption, independent media, and independent judiciary. Since its independence in 1991, Slovenia has put in place democratic institutions of state organization, undergone major capital rearrangements, and achieved both of the starting objectives of new international involvement by entering the EU and NATO. On January 1st, 2007, Slovenia was the first among former socialist countries to take on the common European currency. Slovenia has been subject to highly varying assessments during the construction of its democratic political system; it has been acknowledged as “a ripe democracy,” complete democracy,” or, alternatively, “apparent” or “virtual democracy.” The move negative assessments of the Slovenian political system are related to the persistence of authoritarian behavior patterns and manipulation of democratic institutions that have found its way into the structures of political parties. This book follows the Slovenian evolution from the second-smallest Yugoslav republic to one of the most successful post-communist countries in Central Europe.

This book examines Slovenia's transition from a collection of provinces in the south of the Habsburg Empire, to a republic within Yugoslavia, to an independent state. It also analyses political and economic developments since 1991.

A guidebook to 54 day walks and 2 multi-day treks in Slovenia. Exploring the beautiful Julian Alps, there’s something for both beginner and experienced walkers, from easy valley walks to scrambles and protected routes requiring mountaineering skills and a high level of fitness. Day walks range from 2 to 23km (1–14 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–11 hours. Four 2-day walks with overnight mountain hut stays are described, including treks to Triglav’s summit and the Lakes valley. Sketch maps are included Detailed information on refreshments, transport and accommodation Routes are organised around 5 bases – Kranjska Gora, Bohinj, Bovec, Bled and Kobarid Highlights include Lake Bled

Editor Biography: Frane Adam, Prof. Dr., at the University of Ljubljana and Head (Director) of private, non-profit research organization (IRSA) is dealing recently mainly with project management, mentorship for doctoral students and publications. More on his international publications and received citations can be found in Scopus, Web of Science or Google Scholar. His research interest lies at the intersection of political and economic sociology and social studies of science and technology. He wrote extensively on two topics, comparative analysis of innovation performance and knowledge transfer as well as on the elite change and democracy in Eastern Europe. Book Description: This book analyzes the characteristics and outcomes of the transition process in Slovenia, a relatively young and independent country, from different perspectives. It presents its main achievements as well as its current dilemmas and challenges, among them the causes for systemic dysfunctions, political instability and weak social integration. It is a collection of readings from various scientific disciplines and professions, as well as from different generations of researchers. The approach to the analysis is multidisciplinary and comparative. It combines the fields of sociology, history, geography, political science, law, economics, environmental studies as well as their subfields and intersections. It is an interdisciplinary work in the true sense of the word, based on previous studies and discussions of the status and trends of social development in Slovenia. It should be stressed that the Slovenian authors summarize and critically evaluate the findings, and interpretations of international authors (authors who observe Slovenian society from an external perspective) and who concentrated on a certain aspect of social dynamics follow. It presents the post-transitional challenges in the field of RD and I, rule of law, civil society, human capital and problems with the employment of graduates, the role of meritocratic principles in selection of candidates for leading positions, structural budget deficits and problems with indebtedness. Also, aspects of sustainable regional development, which are all aspects of the future society, are elaborated upon. The compendium is divided into four parts. First is the introductory part, which is followed by the legal-political aspect. The third section covers the socio-economic part, and finally the environmental aspect and sustainable development including organic farming and tourism is presented in the fourth section. The authors believe that this book will provoke interest both with social scientists who deal with Eastern European studies, as well as with those who are particularly interested in Slovenia, its history, and in particular, its political, economic, cultural and ecological developments since its independence. The volume will also be interesting for think-tanks who are seeking economic and political information about the current situation and trends in Slovenia, journalists and students of history, anthropology or sociology of Eastern Europe as well as experts of Slavic studies. Target Audience: -Social scientists and researchers from humanities specialized for Eastern European Studies -Journalists and think-tanks who are seeking economic and political information about the current situation and trends in Slovenia -Students studying history, anthropology or sociology of Eastern Europe -Expert for Slavic studies

Dominating world politics since 1945, the Cold War created a fragile peace while suppressing national groups in the Cold War's most dangerous theater—Europe. Today, with the collapse of Communism, the European Continent is again overshadowed by the specter of radical nationalism, as it was at the beginning of the century. Focusing on the many possible conflicts that dot the European landscape, this book is the first to address the Europeans as distinct national groups, not as nation-states and national minorities. It is an essential guide to the national groups populating the so-called Old World-groups that continue to dominate world headlines and present the world community with some of its most intractable conflicts. While other recent reference books on Europe approach the subject of nations and nationalism from the perspective of the European Union and the nation-state, this book addresses the post-Cold War nationalist resurgence by focusing on the most basic element of any nationalism—the nation. It includes entries on nearly 150 groups, surveying these groups from the earliest period of their national histories to the dawn of the 21st century. In short essays highlighting the political, social, economic, and historical evolution of peoples claiming a distinct identity in an increasingly integrated continent, the book provides both up-to-date information and historical background on the European national groups that are currently making the news and those that will produce future headlines.