Some may wonder where is Slovenia, and some may confuse it for Slovakia. Slovenia is in Europe in the area known as the Balkans. It was part of Yugoslavia until June 25, 1991, when Slovenia and Croatia declared their separate independence. The Serbians who controlled what remained of Yugoslavia would not allow the republics to leave peacefully. Slovenia was very fortunate in being able to leave Yugoslavia without as much trouble as Croatia and Bosnia had to endure.

Slovenia had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 when it became part of Yugoslavia, and many Slovenes still reside in other nearby countries like Hungary and Italy. John Cox discusses the history of Slovenia even before became part of the Hapsburg Empire - not only its political history, but also its rich cultural heritage. Incidentally, the reader comes across many Slovene names that most Americans and others may be unable to pronounce.

Cox explores Slovenia’s gradual move toward independence from Yugoslavia. Slovenia, Serbia and Croatia were the three major republics of Yugoslavia; Slovenia was the most prosperous of the republics and the most intellectual. The Serbs began to force out the other republics from political or military control of the country, aiming to widen their control to create a greater Serbia. In opposition, Slovenia and Croatia decided to leave Yugoslavia. The same happened with Bosnia and Macedonia, leaving only two republics in Yugoslavia: Serbia and Montenegro.

Cox’s book is academic, but there are few books in English on Slovenia and he does a very good job revealing the treasures of Slovenia and its civilization and culture. There are no maps or illustrations, which would have helped the book to be more interesting. There are endnotes and a bibliography of English and Slovene sources. Cox also includes Internet sites in the bibliography, concluding the book with an index.

John K. Cox is an associate professor and director of the honors program at Wheeling Jesuit University (West Virginia). He is the author of The History of Serbia (2002). He is currently working on a book on the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.

This book is part of the “Postcommunist States and Nations” series from publisher Routledge. This series is about how the former Soviet republics and Eastern European nations formerly under Soviet control are developing since gaining democracy. It also looks at their histories.

Slovenia: Evolving Loyalties is recommended to those interested in the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia or in Eastern Europe. Academic and public libraries will want this book for their Eastern European section.