Democratic awakening in Macedonia: Expecting the unexpected
Democratic awakening in Macedonia: Expecting the unexpected
Author(s): Elena CebanSubject(s): Civil Society, Developing nations, Politics and society, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today), Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Centre of European Dialogue and Cultural Diplomacy
Keywords: Macedonia; protest; corruption; confl€ict; political crisis;
Summary/Abstract: On the weekend of 9-10 of May 2015, a firefight with grenades and snipers took place in Kumanovo, the third biggest city in Macedonia. However, it was just the tip of the iceberg – for seven months Macedonia witnessed the most massive popular movement in its history. People of all ethnicities protested the oppressing tax law, the stagnating educational law, the outrageous conduct of the Ministry of Health, the unbelievable recordings revealing government schemes of corruption, election fraud, political murder and nepotism. Claiming that the conflict in Kumanovo was staged by the authorities to distract public attention from the above-mentioned problems, people organized into a movement and established a camp in front of the government, determined to leave only when the government resigns. While voices echo the resemblance with the 2001 conflict, a thorough analysis of internal factors indicates that the commotion is revolving around mass dissatisfaction with the government in power.
Journal: Journal of Global Politics and Current Diplomacy
- Issue Year: 3/2015
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 23-33
- Page Count: 11
- Language: English