North Macedonia: ‘New’ country facing old problems. A research on the name change of the Republic of North Macedonia
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2019-10-22
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en
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Abstract
In June 2018, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia solved a dispute about the name ‘Macedonia’ with the Prespa Agreement, implementing the new name ‘North Macedonia’. In this research, the underlying dispute and the influence of this name change is analysed. To understand the complex dispute, the history of the geographic region of Macedonia is examined, with a cartographic analysis of ethnographic maps. After that, the period after independence of the Republic of Macedonia, up until 2017 is analysed, explaining the complexity of the name dispute. In the last part, the name change and its (geopolitical) consequences are explained, looking at the implications for North Macedonia’s future. By combining different theoretical concepts with a mixed methods approach (interviews, observation, desk research and cartographic analysis), this thesis tries to give more insight into the name change. It concludes that the Prespa Agreement was a compromise for both countries: it made an end to a dispute where conflicting identities clashed, now maybe bringing identities closer again. It can be an example for other disputes as a way to solve a dispute, despite difficulties on both sides. The thesis aims to be a starting point for further research on the name change.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen