Katja Boh
Encyclopedia
Katja Boh was a Slovenia
n sociologist, diplomat
and politician
.
family in Ljubljana
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
(now the capital of Slovenia). Her father was an Austrian
Jew who had converted to Roman Catholicism, her mother was Slovene. During World War II
, she was imprisoned by the Nazis. In 1946 she got engaged to Ljubo Sirc
who later became a famous economist
. The same year, however, Sirc was imprisoned by the Communist regime and triled at the so-called Nagode trial. Due to Sirc's long confinement and later exile, their engagement failed.
She had 2 stepchildren (Maja and Ali Boh)and a daughter Katja Boh - Cerjak from her marriage to dr. Boh.
She studied sociology at the University of Ljubljana
and obtained her PhD in 1974. She dedicated herself to the study of family
patterns, becoming one of the leading Europe
an experts in the field.
and political pluralism, she became involved in politics during the Slovenian spring in the 1980s. She was among the co-founders of the Slovenian Social Democratic Party in 1989, together with Jože Pučnik
, Matjaž Šinkovec
and France Tomšič.
After the victory of the DEMOS coalition in the first free elections in Slovenia in April 1990, she became the Minister for Health in Lojze Peterle
's cabinet. She remained in office until 1991, when she was appointed as the first Slovenian ambassador
to Austria
. She remained in Vienna
until 1997 when she retired. She remained an advisor to the Slovenian Democratic Party
, and was one of the co-authors of the party's programm on social issues for the 2004 parliamentary elections
.
She was also an active member of the International Paneuropean Union
.
She died in August 2008 in Ljubljana and was buried in the Žale
cemetery.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n sociologist, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life and career
She was born in a wealthy middle classMiddle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
family in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
(now the capital of Slovenia). Her father was an Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
Jew who had converted to Roman Catholicism, her mother was Slovene. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was imprisoned by the Nazis. In 1946 she got engaged to Ljubo Sirc
Ljubo Sirc
Ljubo Sirc CBE is a British-Slovene economist and prominent dissident from the former Yugoslavia.-Life and work:He was born in Kranj, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in a wealthy and renowned family of Slovene and Yugoslav patriots...
who later became a famous economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
. The same year, however, Sirc was imprisoned by the Communist regime and triled at the so-called Nagode trial. Due to Sirc's long confinement and later exile, their engagement failed.
She had 2 stepchildren (Maja and Ali Boh)and a daughter Katja Boh - Cerjak from her marriage to dr. Boh.
She studied sociology at the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
and obtained her PhD in 1974. She dedicated herself to the study of family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
patterns, becoming one of the leading Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an experts in the field.
Involvement in politics
A decided supporter of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and political pluralism, she became involved in politics during the Slovenian spring in the 1980s. She was among the co-founders of the Slovenian Social Democratic Party in 1989, together with Jože Pučnik
Jože Pucnik
Jože Pučnik was a Slovenian public intellectual, sociologist and politician. During the Communist regime of Josip Broz Tito, Pučnik was one of the most outspoken Slovenian critics of dictatorship and lack of civil liberties in former Yugoslavia. He was imprisoned for a total of 7 years, and later...
, Matjaž Šinkovec
Matjaž Šinkovec
Matjaž Šinkovec is a Slovenian diplomat, politician, translator, journalist and science fiction writer. He was one of the co-founders of the Slovenian Democratic Party.- Early life and career :...
and France Tomšič.
After the victory of the DEMOS coalition in the first free elections in Slovenia in April 1990, she became the Minister for Health in Lojze Peterle
Lojze Peterle
Alojz "Lojze" Peterle is a Slovenian politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and...
's cabinet. She remained in office until 1991, when she was appointed as the first Slovenian ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. She remained in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
until 1997 when she retired. She remained an advisor to the Slovenian Democratic Party
Slovenian Democratic Party
The Slovenian Democratic Party , known until 2003 as the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia is a Slovenian centre-right liberal conservative and Christian democratic party...
, and was one of the co-authors of the party's programm on social issues for the 2004 parliamentary elections
Slovenian parliamentary election, 2004
-Delegation of Socialni demokrati [United List of Social Democrats]:-Delegation of Liberalna demokracija Slovenije [Liberal Democracy of Slovenia]:-Delegation of Nova Slovenija [New Slovenia]:...
.
She was also an active member of the International Paneuropean Union
International Paneuropean Union
The International Paneuropean Union claims to be the oldest European unification movement and is also referred to as the Paneuropean Movement and the Pan-Europa Movement...
.
She died in August 2008 in Ljubljana and was buried in the Žale
Žale
Žale Central cemetery , often abbreviated to Žale, is the largest and the central cemetery in Ljubljana. It is located in the Bežigrad district and operated by the Žale Public Company.- History :...
cemetery.
Major works
- Changing Patterns of European Family Life (co-author, New York - London, 1990).
- Cross Cultural Perspectives on Families, Work, and Change (together with Giovanni Sgretta, New York - London, 1989).
- Ženske in diskriminacija ("Women and Discrimination", co-author; Ljubljana, 1986).