The Identity Challenges of the European Integration Process of North Macedonia
The Identity Challenges of the European Integration Process of North Macedonia

Summary/Abstract: Despite peacefully achieving independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, North Macedonia has had to face several identity challenges both domestically and in its relations with neighboring states. The present research is intended to be an analysis of the implications and challenges of the identity disputes in North Macedonia within the context of the European integration process (We are taking into account both internal disputes, such as those between the Macedonian and Albanian communities, and external ones, focusing on North Macedonia’s relationship with Greece and Bulgaria). Based on this, the purpose of the paper is to establish and analyze the relationship between the management of identity disputes in North Macedonia and the process of rapprochement, of Euro-Atlantic integration. As specific objectives, we propose: 1. Identification and analysis of North Macedonia’s internal and external identity disputes, 2. Establishing a correlation and analysis of the mutual influence between the Euro-Atlantic integration process and the management of identity disputes, and 3. Analysis of public perceptions and support among the population of North Macedonia for resolving identity disputes and reaching compromises in order to achieve geopolitical goals (integration into NATO and the EU). Methodologically, we propose a three-level analysis: a. Analysis of how identity issues, specifically internal and external identity disputes, influenced the level of integration and the rapprochement process with the European Union, b. Analysis of rapprochement with the EU and integration into NATO to determine the degree of flexibility of the Macedonian position on identity issues and c. Analysis of public perceptions regarding identity disputes in the Euro-Atlantic integration context (our focus is to conduct this comparative analysis at the level of the Macedonian and Albanian communities, with the latter being the largest minority community in this state).

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