In this paper I wish to present some of the essential aspects of pluralization and democratization in Slovcnia in the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. In this brief period, as in other ex-socialist countries in East and Central Europe, there was an intensive process of transformation in the direction of political pluralism. In Slovenia, the end-results were the introduction of a multi-party system, the first two competitive elections (in April, 1990, and December, 1992) and the constituting of Slovenia’s pluralistic parliament. In June, 1991, after the right to self-detcrmination had been expressed by the citizens of Slovcnia in a referendum in December, 1990, the independence of the Republic of Slovenia was proclaimed. An armed intervention by the Yugoslav Army to block these liberation aspirations in the summer of 1991 failed and Slovenia was internationally recognized at the beginning of 1992. One of the fruits of these efforts was the new Slovenian constitution passed in December, 1991, which completed the basic achievements of the democratic transformation, and at the same time laid down the premises and framework for further pluralization and dcmocratixation of the Slovenian society and state. These events have to be considered, of course, in the context of the global crises and collapse of real socialism, but at the same time we must not forget that they unfolded in a distinctive fashion in Slovenia. This uniqueness was determined by four main factors: the civil society phenomenon; the intelligentsia’s autonomous initiatives; the role of reformers within the ranks of the former political elite; and self-management. The latter, despite its utopian integralism and monopolistic political instrumcntalization, did create some scope for, and the conditions for, relative autonomy in the domains of culture, the economy, and, at least in part, politics, and thereby also facilitated a peaceful transition from the old political system towards a pluralistic political democracy. These proccsscs took place in the framework of the common Yugoslav state space which was gradually disintegrating while its rulers tried to prevent the process of national emancipation. This momentous event in Slovenian history will doubtless gencratc numerous monographs and analyses.’ This essay seeks to illuminate certain aspects of this “transitional period” and to make a modest contribution to the numerous efforts to understand the “transition” from a more or less authoritarian system to a pluralistic political democracy.2 1. Danica Fink-Hafner, hhru u Peter Jambrek, C~tavnu dernokrac&, G’radztr, shenskr demokmcije, d@me in ustme (Const~itutional Democracy, Building of Slovrnian Democracy, of State, and of C:onstitut”ion) (Ljubljana: IjZS, 1992). 2. Rc luan Linz, “Transitzon to lhe Demowacy,” The Uiuhingfon Quarft+, No. j (Stymmer 1990); KI aus van Beym-Yuf dem Weg au Weffsbe~erbsdemokrate? Der AuJbnu polilischer KonJzkfstrukturen in Oesfeuropa,” 18. Wissenschaftlischer Kongras der Deutschen Verciningung fucr Politische Wisswschaft, Hrsg. van Beate Kohler-Koch (Opladen: Leske + Budrich, 1992).