The thesis introduces contemporary dramatic texts thematizing refugeeism, one of the oldest features of human civilization. The first part of the thesis deals with the refugee issue. The term refugee is defined, the difference between a refugee and a migrant is highlighted, and the connection between refugees and Europe and between refugees and Slovenia is presented. In the second part, the thesis focuses on contemporary Slovenian drama and its socio-political criticism and engagement, while the third part provides an analysis of twelve dramatic texts by eight playwrights − Marjan Tomšič, Zdenko Kodrič, Franjo Frančič, Vinko Möderndorfer, Drago Potočnjak, Saša Pavček, Tjaša Mislej and Žiga Divjak. The thesis poses questions about who refugees are, where they come from, why they flee and what problems they encounter on their way. In texts with tragic stories and reasons for fleeing, playwrights aim at the reader's and viewer's sympathy, empathy, their ethical consideration and emphasize the humanitarian dimension of the refugee problem, while many texts also express criticism of a xenophobic, apathetic and indifferent society, the political situation and the authorities, the media, which with their (inadequate) operation incite intolerance and create a »crisis«. The analysis showed that three responses to the historically far-reaching issue of refugees appeared in contemporary Slovenian drama: to the Balkan situation, to the refugee situation after 2000, and to the war situation in the Middle East.
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