Historical/Political Manifestations of the Macedonian Ethnic Identity

Abstract

Given the comprehensive analysis of the concept of ethnicity and its logical functions in chapter 3, as well as the applicable methodology to be used, the first domain of evidence presented in detail on the question of “Who the Macedonians Are” is the domain of historical/political manifestations. This source provides the richest and most readily accessible basic raw material on the question of the Macedonian identity. However, ethnic identity in the context of historical sources and documentation has to be distinguished from the related concept of national identity as the two concepts are similar and are often used interchangeably. Subtle differences between them will make it clear that historical/political manifestations have probably more to do with a sense of a unitary political identity needed in a claim to nationhood rather than to a claim for an ethnic identity.