Ivan Šusteršič and Croatian Politicians

Primjer odnosa slovenskog političara Ivana Šusteršiča i pojedinih hrvatskih političara pokazuje visoku razinu suradnje između pripadnika političkih elita dvaju naroda unutar Austro-Ugarske Monarhije na kraju 19. stoljeća i u razdoblju do kraja Prvoga svjetskoga rata, kada je s njezinom propašću došlo do dublje transformacije političkog života i u konačnici na javnu scenu dovelo druge osobe. Ti su odnosi obilježeni izrazito čvrstim vezama, koje se mogu protumačiti potrebom za suradnjom unutar širokoga multinacionalnog okvira u kojem dominiraju veće nacije. Uz to, te su veze bile dijelom posljedica svjetonazorskih poveznica, koje su bile odraz prožimanja ideja modernog nacionalizma, katolicizma i gledišta prema održivosti Monarhije. U članku se, na temelju dijela arhivskog gradiva, onodobnog tiska i relevantne historiografske literature, analizira genezu i razvoj veza između Šusteršiča i hrvatskih političara.The example of the relationships between Ivan Šusteršič and certain Croatian politicians shows high-level co-operation between the members of political elites of the two nations within the Habsburg Monarchy at the end of the 19th century and in the period until the end of the First World War, when — with the disintegration of the Dual Monarchy — political life deeply transformed, which launched other persons into the public scene. Those relationships are marked by exceptionally strong ties that could be explained as a need for mutual co-operation in the circumstances of joint appearance against the challenges of the politics of greater national unions. What is more, those ties were the consequence of certain shared world views, which were the reflection of the permeation of ideas of nationalism, Catholicism, dynastical patriotism and views of the viability of the Habsburg Monarchy. ©usterπiË did not only maintain permanent contacts with Croatian politicians from the Cisleithanian part of the Monarchy, particularly in the clubs of the Imperial Council, but he also encouraged closeness with those from the Autonomous Banovina of Croatia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, which indicates the extent of the political co-operation. The height of the relationships is noticeable in Šusteršič\u27s joining the Party of State Rights and in great gatherings that were held in Zagreb, Opatija and Ljubljana. For the Croatian side — ready to co-operate with the leader of the Slovene People’s Party — Šusteršič was an example of an excellent organiser and a skilful politician who — employing subtle tactics — achieved his goals in the atmosphere of the high Viennese politics. The article also indicates contradictions in the Croatian-Slovene relationships. Namely, the article also reveals the criticism of those Croatian politicians who were more inclined towards liberalism and who saw a danger in Šusteršič\u27s ardent advocacy of ideas of political Catholicism