“Io ho avuto molti problemi con questo concetto di Nazione Madre”: The Notion of Kin-State from the Perspective of Members of the Italian National Community in Slovenia

Abstract

The article delves into the understanding of the notion of kin-state or homeland among members of the Italian national community in Slovene Istria. The authors find that both the notions of kinness and homeland remain theoretically unclear and incomplete, posing significant challenges to the exploration of the amalgamated theoretical construct of kin-homeland as each investigation into this topic begins “ab ovo”. The authors also note methodological inconsistencies across various studies investigating this concept. Their key finding is that members of the Italian national community in Slovenia regard the concept of kin-state or homeland as outdated, attributing this perception to the fluidity of identities that renders binary modes of thinking obsolete.