When I first picked up Loring Danforth’s The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World, I thought it might be a bit dated given its 1995 release. After reading it, however, I realize the two sides of this argument are long standing and well entrenched. Not much has changed in the last 100 years, let alone the last 15.
The ongoing name dispute between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia is only one part of a larger disagreement concerning the definition of Macedonia, its proper place in history and culture, and the right of peoples to ethnic self-identification. The current deadlock is the result of mutually exclusive positions. Macedonians claim a distinct national heritage, separate from Greece. Greeks, on the other hand, argue that Macedonians are simply Greeks who live in the former territory known as Macedonia. This disagreement cannot be resolved without one or both parties giving ground.
Danforth gives us an excellent investigation into the sources and claims of both sides in this argument. Instead of taking sides, he simply allows both to speak, often in their own words. The combination of scholarly research, historical references and anecdotal quotes and comments makes for an interesting and informative read.
The book begins with a general anthropological explanation of how national identities form. This is particularly useful for those who find it hard to understand the belligerence of seemingly contrary, yet certain, witnesses. Danforth’s explanations put words around a phenomenon most of us discover through life experience: people often believe what they want to believe, and repeat what sounds good to them, regardless of the underlying facts of the matter. There seems to be plenty of that behavior going around in this argument.
The bulk of the text is given to discussion of the various positions and arguments set forth by the opposing sides, both inside Greece and Macedonia and abroad. Particular attention is given to the impact of immigrant affinity clubs and publications.
Danforth’s presents several possible solutions to the longstanding disagreements, albeit without much hope of any being acceptable to all sides. He wisely counsels tolerance and respect for individuals and groups, allowing each to decide for themselves how to be called and what ethnicity to claim if we are to avoid the worst violent responses so often played out in history.
The book includes useful illustrations and maps, a large bibliography, and an index.
Reviewed by Bob Faber
The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World
By Loring M. Danforth
ISBN-10: 0-691-04356-6 9 (paper)
ISBN-13: 978-0-691-04356-2 (paper)
Contents:
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Preface
Note on Transliteration
Introduction
Chapter I. Ethnic Nationalism: The Construction of National Identities and Cultures
Chapter II. Conflicting Claims to Macedonian Identity and History
Chapter III. The Construction of a Macedonian National Identity
Chapter IV. Transnational National Communities
Chapter V. The Macedonian Human Rights Movement
Chapter VI. National Symbols and the International Recognition of the Republic of Macedonia
Chapter VII. Ted Yannas: A Macedonian in Australia
Chapter VIII. The Construction of National Identity among Immigrants to Australia from Northern Greece
Bibliography
Index
Bibliography:
Danforth, Loring M. The Macedonian Conflict: Ethnic Nationalism in a Transnational World, (Princeton: Princeton University Press), 1995.
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