„Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference

Macedonia is still in the process of forging its identity as an independent state; a process that is “contested” not only sub-state national identities but also the extent to which Macedonia sees itself as a subject of international relations.Without the protection of the Yugoslav federation, Macedo...

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Main Author: Vesna Stanković Pejanović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Belgrade 2011-05-01
Series:Etnoantropološki Problemi
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/757
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author Vesna Stanković Pejanović
author_facet Vesna Stanković Pejanović
author_sort Vesna Stanković Pejanović
collection DOAJ
description Macedonia is still in the process of forging its identity as an independent state; a process that is “contested” not only sub-state national identities but also the extent to which Macedonia sees itself as a subject of international relations.Without the protection of the Yugoslav federation, Macedonia found its security weakened and as a response to Bulgarian and Greek attitudes a more assertive and uncompromising view of Macedonian nationalism emerged, which would have a significant influence on Macedonian-Albanian relations in the new state. The Macedonians saw their national identity “contested” from several directions at the beginning of the 1990s, most notably from Greece and Bulgaria, and from inside the new state the Albanian opposition to Macedonian political and cultural dominance. Internal challenge to national identity is a result of the large number of cleavages between the two main ethnic communities. Because of this society has become increasingly segregated with major tensions running through the formation of new political identities and institutions across ethnic lines. External challenge to national identity between the Republic of Macedonia and its neighbors can be summarized as follows: Bulgaria is the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in language; Serbs are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in religion; Albanians are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in statehood; and Greeks are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in the name of the nation, its language and state.
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spelling doaj.art-fd78502759734845917b7e987f67cbb72022-12-21T20:08:28ZengUniversity of BelgradeEtnoantropološki Problemi0353-15892334-88012011-05-016210.21301/EAP.v6i2.11„Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of DifferenceVesna Stanković Pejanović0Zagreb, CroatiaMacedonia is still in the process of forging its identity as an independent state; a process that is “contested” not only sub-state national identities but also the extent to which Macedonia sees itself as a subject of international relations.Without the protection of the Yugoslav federation, Macedonia found its security weakened and as a response to Bulgarian and Greek attitudes a more assertive and uncompromising view of Macedonian nationalism emerged, which would have a significant influence on Macedonian-Albanian relations in the new state. The Macedonians saw their national identity “contested” from several directions at the beginning of the 1990s, most notably from Greece and Bulgaria, and from inside the new state the Albanian opposition to Macedonian political and cultural dominance. Internal challenge to national identity is a result of the large number of cleavages between the two main ethnic communities. Because of this society has become increasingly segregated with major tensions running through the formation of new political identities and institutions across ethnic lines. External challenge to national identity between the Republic of Macedonia and its neighbors can be summarized as follows: Bulgaria is the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in language; Serbs are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in religion; Albanians are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in statehood; and Greeks are the main identity threat to the extent that identity is anchored in the name of the nation, its language and state.http://eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/757Macedoniaidentitynationminority
spellingShingle Vesna Stanković Pejanović
„Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
Etnoantropološki Problemi
Macedonia
identity
nation
minority
title „Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
title_full „Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
title_fullStr „Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
title_full_unstemmed „Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
title_short „Contested Identity“ of Macedonia: Identity of Difference
title_sort contested identity of macedonia identity of difference
topic Macedonia
identity
nation
minority
url http://eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/757
work_keys_str_mv AT vesnastankovicpejanovic contestedidentityofmacedoniaidentityofdifference