The Macedonian Conflict

by Loring M. Danforth

Greeks and Macedonians are presently engaged in an often heated dispute involving competing claims to a single identity. Each group asserts that they, and they alone, have the right to identify themselves as Macedonians. The Greek government denies the existence of a Macedonian nation and insists that all Macedonians are Greeks, while Macedonians vehemently assert their existence as a unique people. Here Loring Danforth examines the Macedonian conflict in light of contemporary theoretical work on ethnic nationalism, the construction of national identities and cultures, the invention of tradition, and the role of the state in the process of building a nation. The conflict is set in the broader context of Balkan history and in the more narrow context of the recent disintegration of Yugoslavia.


Danforth focuses on the transnational dimension of the "global cultural war" taking place between Greeks and Macedonians both in the Balkans and in the diaspora. He analyzes two issues in the struggle for human rights of the Macedonian minority in northern Greece and the campaign for international recognition of the newly independent Republic of Macedonia. The book concludes with a detailed analysis of the construction of identity at an individual level among immigrants from northern Greece who have settled in Australia, where multiculturalism is an official policy. People from the same villages, members of the same families, living in the northern suburbs of Melbourne have adopted different national identities.

Genres: History

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Bob Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Identity as a social construct

When Yugoslavia broke up in the early `90s, the southernmost republic of that former country declared itself independent with the name "Macedonia". Assuming this name caused a great international ruckus, mainly due to Greek refusal to accept a neighbor with that name. They didn't like their neighbor's name, they didn't like their flag, and they denied that this patently obvious nation (as opposed to `state') even existed. Why was this ? Who are Macedonians ? Where do you find them ? And who, after all, has the right to define who you are ? The answers to all these questions are exceedingly complex, but if you read Danforth's book, you will come away with a far better understanding of the matter. (and I should add, it would help if you don't belong to any of the nationalities dealt with in the book !!)
Macedonia was an ancient region, north of the Greek city states. As far as I understood, originally they were not Greek, but absorbed Greek culture enough so that by the time Alexander the Great (also known as "Alexander of Macedon", remember ?) launched on his world conquests, the Macedonians brought their adopted culture to many parts of the ancient world. The Greeks never tired of claiming him as their own exclusively. After the end of Alexander's brief hegemony, Macedonia faded to a region, never playing much part in world affairs. In the sixth and seventh centuries A.D., Slavic settlers moved in, mixing with Bulgarians from further east. As today's Macedonians readily admit, they are descended from these people, not from ancient Greeks. From the 1300s and 1400s, the area became part of the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks, Serbs, and Bulgarians all broke away from Turkish rule in the 19th century, claiming as their own the lands still held by the Ottomans. The squabbling culminated in the two Balkan wars of 1912-1913 in which Greece and Serbia emerged the main victors, each with an ample portion of what was still called Macedonia. Bulgaria retained a small corner also. Each of the three Balkan powers tried to create a "pure nation" based on `blood', a national identity that denied minorities, denied differences of any kind. There was no place for Macedonians, who perforce had to be "Greeks", "Bulgarians" or "South Serbs". The xenophobic, nationalist states of the time defined who YOU were. You had no choice. Quoting Benedict Anderson, the author continually points out how national movements must construct an "imagined community" which ultimately demands its own state. A Macedonian language emerged---Slavic inhabitants speaking a Slavic language close, but not identical, to Bulgarian. Eventually the requisite "imagined community" emerged as well. The Greeks refused to recognize that any such group existed in their country. They tried, right from 1913, to Hellenize all their citizens. When Tito established a Macedonian republic within Yugoslavia in 1944, the die was cast. Immigration to Canada or Australia (among other places) was often the only recourse for dissenters in Greece. In 1991, the Greek government launched on a frantic campaign to deny that any such people existed; saying that they were robbing Greece of its cultural patrimony. But they do exist.
In short, Danforth traces how the complex issue of "who is a Macedonian" and "what makes a Macedonian" evolved. He then discusses how such issues take on a transnational complexity in our times because overseas communities are often able to campaign and fight for the identity denied them in their `homeland'. Thus, Macedonians in Melbourne and Toronto (to take his examples), could assert their Macedonian-ness better abroad than back in (wider-geographic) Macedonia. There is inevitably self-doubt, dissent, and confusion, interesting portraits are given of individuals and families in Melbourne who struggled to define themselves within and outside of state-bestowed identities. Danforth concludes that national identities are not biologically given, they are socially constructed. If these topics interest you, I suggest that you will find THE MACEDONIAN CONFLICT a fascinating read, as well as extremely clear, backed up with a great deal of evidence. The fulminations of flag-waving nationalists should be ignored.

[Tom TG · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the Macedonian region is one of the most complex and contentious issue in 21st century Europe. In this book, Danforth does a brilliant job introducing the detail of the questions facing politicians, historians and most importantly the people of the region. His analysis focuses on the region of historic Macedonia that is currently administered by the state of Greece. Through the experiences of the diaspora community in Melbourne Australia, Danforth attempts to cast light the process of identity formation. This approach gives us a particularly interesting insight into the issue as diaspora communities in pluralist societies like Melbourne are less impacted on a day-to-day basis as a result of the manner in which they choose to express their ethnic identity. While Danforth does his best to remain objective, my sense is that there is a slight anti-establishment (anti Greek) bias that emanates from the natural desire to 'correct the record'.

In short, I picked up the book to help make a mental map of the factors that make this Balkan conflict so complex, but I kept reading for the Barthes-inspired approach to the study of identity formation more broadly. An unexpectedly engaging read from start to finish.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating look at how national identities are constructed. I was not expecting to be as totally absorbed in this as I was. Many of these ideas seem newly relevant especially with the recent immigration controversies in Europe, as well as the Greece/Eurozone issues. Not overly academic. Definitely worth a read.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Analyzes the claims of both Macedonia and Greece on the heritage of the hellenistic world in a way not likely to please either. Required reading for those interested in the subject, though the parts about Greek and Macedonian diaspora communities are less interesting.

[hay man · Rating 3 out of 5]

the former yugoslav republic of macedonia conflict

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at the ethnic diversity in the Balkans (drink!), specifically on the different peoples identifying as Macedonian in the central Balkans and Northern Greece. The author does a great job explaining through it from a 3rd perspective, both sides, and a great emphasis on both those currently living there and the diaspora community who plays an important role we often forget about. To that degree, the author does an amazing job highlighting the lived experiences of people's from all viewpoints in the region and I think the author does a good job explaining such a complex and divisive issue. In this way it is also a great study in the formation of identity and ethnicity as a concept and how it manifests at the individual and group level. It is a bit of a slow read written in a very scholarly way but highly recommend if you're interested in 20th century Balkan history/politics or the Greek and Macedonian regions of the modern day.

[Yannick Colakovski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, covers all points of view and has some really interesting anecdotes from the Greek Macedonian community of Melbourne.