This project highlights how private lives became entangled with state security during the Cold War. By examining surveillance of mixed marriages in 1980s Slovenia, it reveals both the reach of the State Security Service and the personal experiences of those caught in its gaze. The research contributes to Cold War history, migration studies, and surveillance studies, offering new insights into how states sought to control intimacy and movement across borders. Its findings resonate today, as questions of security, personal freedom, and cultural integration remain pressing. The project thus bridges past and present, history and contemporary debate.

The project investigates how the Slovenian State Security Service (SDV) surveilled mixed marriages with Eastern European citizens in the 1980s. It aims to uncover SDV’s surveillance strategies, criteria for suspicion, and the broader cultural and political context. A special focus lies on the role of Eastern European women, who made up the majority of these spouses, and on the tension between personal autonomy and state control. The research will also compare SDV practices with other intelligence services in Eastern Europe, situating Slovenia within the wider Cold War intelligence landscape.

The project draws on extensive archival sources preserved in the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia and partly in the Archives of Yugoslavia. Using critical historiographical analysis, it will systematically examine surveillance reports, operational files, and case studies of couples under suspicion. A comparative approach will highlight differences between internal and external surveillance, while an interdisciplinary perspective—including sociology, political science, and gender studies—will shed light on the human impact of espionage fears. Ethical considerations remain central, ensuring sensitive engagement with personal histories.

The project will produce at least three peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, a scholarly monograph, and a dedicated website for public outreach. Findings will also be shared through lectures, public events, and international conferences. This multifaceted dissemination strategy will ensure that both the academic community and the wider public gain access to new insights into Cold War surveillance, migration, and the lived experience of mixed marriages in Slovenia.