• Host institution: Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor
• Principal investigator: Assoc. Prof. Ana Šela, PhD
• Project code: Z6-60180
• Project duration: 2025–2027
• Funding: Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS)

Further details about the project are available in the SICRIS system:
👉 https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/sl/project/22772

The project is organised into three interconnected phases (work packages), each combining specific research objectives with clearly defined implementation steps.

Phase 1 (WP1–WP2): Collection and Analysis of Sources 

Objective: To systematically identify, collect, and critically analyse archival material related to the surveillance of mixed marriages and foreign nationals in socialist Yugoslavia.

This phase focuses on extensive archival research, primarily in the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia, with particular emphasis on the records of the State Security Service (SDV). The aim is to reconstruct surveillance practices through primary sources such as operational reports, analytical documents, and personal files, and to establish a solid empirical foundation for the project.

Implementation: Progressing as planned; key archival units have been examined and a core body of sources established.

Phase 2 (WP2–WP4): Analytical and Comparative Research 

Objective: To analyse surveillance strategies and situate them within broader comparative, European, and Cold War contexts.

Building on the collected sources, this phase examines how the SDV monitored mixed marriages and foreign nationals, and how these practices relate to wider patterns of political and security control. Particular attention is given to the intersection between internal surveillance (targeting domestic actors) and external surveillance (linked to foreign nationals and international relations), as well as to the role of universities as politically sensitive environments.

Implementation: Ongoing; analytical framework developed and initial case studies completed.

Phase 3 (WP5): Interpretation and Dissemination of Results 

Objective: To synthesise research findings and disseminate them within the academic community and the wider public.

This phase focuses on transforming research results into scholarly outputs and making them accessible through conferences, publications, and digital platforms. It also contributes to the broader visibility and societal relevance of the project.

Implementation: Initial results presented at an international symposium; publications in preparation.

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 several key outputs that reflect both its scientific and societal impact:

• At least three peer-reviewed articles in leading academic journals

• A scholarly monograph

• A dedicated project website for public outreach

In addition, research findings will be disseminated through lectures, public events, and international conferences. This multifaceted dissemination strategy ensures that both the academic community and the wider public gain access to new insights into Cold War surveillance, migration processes, and the lived experience of mixed marriages in Slovenia.

ŠELA, Ana. Akademski prostor pod političnim nadzorom : spremljanje tujih študentov v visokem šolstvu : prispevek na Mednarodnem znanstvenem simpoziju Univerza v Mariboru – 50 let, Maribor, Amfiteater dr. Vladimirja Bračiča, Filozofska fakulteta UM, 2.-3. 12. 2025. [COBISS.SI-ID 270127875]