How does a society like North Macedonia navigating economic—and especially ideological—transition, confront the challenges and contradictions that arise? What role can this small nation play on a Balkan peninsula entangled in a history as omnipresent as the conflicts that continue to divide its neighbors?
The question of national identity, amplified in the post-Yugoslav era, centers on “who we are” and has deepened societal divisions like never before.
Over the past decade, Macedonian demographics have seen a sharp decline. According to statistics, nearly a quarter of the population has emigrated, and this trend shows no signs of slowing.
I lived in Skopje until I was 21, working as a reporter for a national television station. In 2011, I left.
