Slovenia was under Austrian Habsburg rule when Plemelj was born, as it had been for most of the preceding 500 years. However it was around this time that the Slovenes, Serbs, and Croats began to seek independence from Austria and various ideas of political union of these groups began to be discussed.
Slovenia ay sa ilalim ng Austrian Habsburg patakaran kapag Plemelj ay ipinanganak, bilang ito had been para sa karamihan ng sinusundan ng 500 taon. Gayunpaman, ito ay sa paligid ng mga oras na ito na ang Slovenes, Serbs, at Croats nagsimula na humingi ng pagsasarili mula sa Austria at iba't-ibang mga ideya ng mga pampulitikang unyon ng mga grupong ito ay nagsimulang maging usapan.