DISCRIMINATION OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA IN 1990s OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Fehari RAMADANI

Abstract

The fall of the communist system in Eastern Europe and in Yugoslavia, along with its dissolution, raised hopes among Albanians that the multiparty system and the independence of Macedonia would improve their position in the new state. Albanians in Macedonia had suffered a lot from the treatment by communist authorities in the 1970s and 1980s, during the 20th century. Therefore, they hoped that the new government of Macedonia would have greater respect for their rights. However, instead of cooperation, the Macedonian political class pursued the path of centralization. It committed to building a unitary state where power would belong exclusively to Macedonians. This political class failed to understand that Macedonia was a multi-ethnic state, and the formation of an ethnically homogeneous state was practically impossible. With its policy, the government in Skopje turned Macedonia into a state consisting of a society with two classes: the ruling Macedonians and the suppressed Albanian population, which constituted the second-largest ethnic group after the Macedonians. When in 1991 Macedonia separated from the Yugoslav Federation and became independent, instead of gaining the rights that were denied to them during the previous period, the Albanians faced further hardships. The government persistently denied Albanians their rights to language, education, and culture. As employees, police, and soldiers, they faced discrimination, and it was very difficult for any of them to achieve a high-ranking career.

Pages: 53 - 76