Social, cultural and demographic determinants of preserving and promoting the national identity of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia

The project represents support for the Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia and their economic and all-round development, provides prerequisites for strengthening competitiveness and realization of own development potentials, and encourages the activation of all stakeholders to work together for the benefit of the Croatian people in the Republic of North Macedonia and their economic recovery. It contributes to the creation of preconditions for preventing the emigration of the population, preserving their own identity and culture and specific achievements of members of the Croatian community in the Republic of North Macedonia, reducing the negative demographic trend and sustainable development, and improves the quality of life and integration of the entire population living in that area. According to the last population census conducted in 2021 in the Republic of North Macedonia (although incompletely realized – according to the indications of the Croatian minority in the Republic of North Macedonia), 2,145 people declared themselves Croats, which is a relative share of 0.12% of the total population of the country. Despite the relatively modest demographic strength, the social, cultural, scientific and educational contribution of the Croatian minority community, through the preservation of its own identity, to the construction and development of Macedonian society, is exceptional and in the context of scientific relevance and socio-political current affairs deserves to be researched, evaluated and presented. At the same time, a prerequisite for improving the social and political position of the Croatian minority community in the Republic of North Macedonia is the preservation, construction and promotion of its own national and cultural identity, in close cooperation with relevant social stakeholders in the Republic of Croatia. In this general context, the project will include the following scientific research units: (1) Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia in a demographic and historical context; (2) Social processes of national identity building; (3) Croatian language as a key element of preservation and improvement of national identity; (4) Religiosity of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia; (5) Cultural practices as determinants of national identity; (6) Political position of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia; (7) Organizations and associations of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia; (8) Croatian-Macedonian cooperation in the Republic of North Macedonia; and (9) Cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of North Macedonia. The aforementioned scientific research units will be evaluated using quantitative and qualitative empirical methodology, which includes: quantitative analysis of relevant statistical and demographic documentation, quantitative and qualitative empirical research of determinants and components of national, linguistic, cultural and religious identity (survey, semi-structured interviews and focus groups). on a convenient sample of the Croatian minority community), qualitative sociological research of the Macedonian and international legislative framework for the protection of minority rights, a qualitative analysis of the activities of Croatian organizations and media discourse, and a qualitative analysis of the existing model of cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian minority community in the Republic of North Macedonia. The results of the project will be presented and interpreted in the Project Implementation Report and disseminated to other Croatian associations in the Republic of North Macedonia in the form of a public presentation. The implementation of the project provides support for Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia, connecting the home state and emigration with Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia, promoting their interests (legal, political, economic, cultural and others), supporting their return and staying, and preserving their full equality and contributing to the economic , social and demographic revitalization. In this context, the project promotes general legal, and especially constitutional, legal affirmation and constitutional recognition of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia as a strong incentive for their survival and even stronger affirmation, but also as a factor in building the prosperity and progress of the Republic of North Macedonia and its inclusion in European integration processes. Project team members: Dražen Živić (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar), Ivana Bendra (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar), Sandra Cvikić (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar), Žarko Kamčev (Community of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia), Keti Kamčeva (Community of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia), Rebeka Mesarić Žabčić (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar), Goce Naumovski (University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje), Ivana Žebec Šilj (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar) and Nenad Živković (Community of Croats in the Republic of North Macedonia).