Institute of social sciences and humanities Skopje

Skopje 2014 Project and its Eects

on the Perception of Macedonian Identity
Among the Citizens of Skopje
Ques onnaire for focus groups consisted of ethnic Macedonians
("Skopje 2014" policy study conducted by ISSHS)
Experience and percep on of iden ty

What is a typical Macedonian?

Which characteris cs do you nd as primary for the typical Macedonian?
Do you nd some an c Macedonian traces present in the way of life and the basic, typical
characteris cs of the Macedonian iden ty?
If your answer on the previous ques on is yes, please specify which characteris cs.
Which characteris cs of the average or the typical Macedonian you nd as an advantage
when you want to present the Macedonians in the best possible way in front of strangers?
Which characteris cs of the average or the typical Macedonian do you want to hide in
front of strangers?
Which period/periods from the history is/are most important in establishing the
Macedonian iden ty or in forming the most important characteris cs of the typical
Macedonian?
Which stories from the Macedonian cultural heritage were you growing up with?
Which stories from the Macedonian cultural heritage you nd interes ng for telling your
children, grandchildren, nephews in the last ten years?
Please specify certain features from Macedonian culture which you nd as most important
(language, folklore, customs, beliefs, food, architecture) Which customs? Which beliefs?
Which songs/music? Which buildings?
Which customs cause clear and strong sense of belonging to Macedonian people?

Experiences and percep on of the An c period and it's associa on with Macedonian iden ty

What do you think about Alexander the Great?

How much do you know about Ancient Macedonia?
When did you become familiar with Ancient Macedonia's history and do you have basic
knowledge about it?
Have you heard stories from your parents about Alexander the Great or Ancient
Macedonia?
Do you tell stories about Ancient Macedonia or Alexander the Great to your
children/grandchildren or nephews in the past ten years?
Which historic person do you consider as more important in establishing the Macedonian
na onal consciousness: Goce Delchev or Alexander the Great?
What story from the life and rule of Alexander the Great do you nd as most important ?
What story from the life and rule of Alexander the Great would you tell to your
children/grandchildren/nephews?

Institute of social sciences and humanities Skopje

Is there another person from Ancient Macedonia's history that is important to you and
you've heard stories about it in your childhood?
Which part from the Ancient history of Macedonia would you present in front of strangers as
features that you are proud of?
Which part from the Ancient history of Macedonia would you want to hide in front of
strangers as part from the Macedonian iden ty's past that you are ashamed of?
Based on personal perspec ve, can you say that you have totally indierent emo ons to the
Ancient history?
Based on personal perspec ve, can you say that you have some emo onal bonds with the
Ancient history?
If the answer is yes, please specify those feelings.
For which part of Macedonian history do you have stronger feelings: Ancient or Period of
Komi ?
Which of these two periods is more important in forming the everyday culture of the typical
Macedonian?

How do you feel about the new buildings of Project Skopje 2014?
Institute of social sciences and humanities Skopje

How do you feel about new Skopje?

Do you think it portrays the Macedonian iden ty as you in mately feel about the typical
Macedonian?
Do you feel that the style of the buildings and monuments is in the spirit of Macedonian's
tradi on?
What is acceptable for you? What do you like about Skopje 2014? Why?
What is not acceptable for you or what you don't like? Why?
What do you think is missing in this Project (as building's style, monument or other)?
What would you add?
What would you take away?

Institute of social sciences and humanities Skopje

Ques onnaire for focus group consisted of ethnic groups other than Macedonians
("Skopje 2014" policy study conducted by ISSHS)
Experience and percep on of iden ty

What is a typical Macedonian?

Which characteris cs do you nd as primary for the typical Macedonian? Posi ve and
nega ve.
Do you nd some an c Macedonian traces present in the way of life and the basic,
typical characteris cs of the Macedonians?
Please specify certain features of Macedonian culture which you nd as most familiar
for you(language, folklore, customs, beliefs, food, architecture) and which of them
you can you iden fy with?

Experiences and percep on of the An c period and it's associa on with Macedonian iden ty

What do you think about Alexander the Great?

Do you think that Macedonian history has some origins from Ancient Macedonia and
Alexander the Great?
As an ethnic minority, do you iden fy yourself with Ancient history and Alexander the
Great?
Based on personal perspec ve do you have emo onal rela on towards the Ancient
history of Macedonia?
If the answer is yes, what kind of feelings are those? (indierence, aversion,
interes ng, anger)?
Which period of Macedonian history is best known for you and with which period do
you most iden fy Macedonians: Byzan ne, An quity, Enlightenment, O oman,
Revolu onary, Par san, Socialism, transi on?
Which period from Macedonian history gives you a feeling of deeper connec on to the
Macedonians and which one gives you a feeling of deeper separa on?
How do you feel about the new buildings of Project Skopje 2014?
How do you feel about new Skopje?
What is acceptable for you? What do you like about Skopje 2014? Why?
What is not acceptable for you or what you don't like? Why?
Do you consider Skopje 2014 as an ethnic or as na onal project?
Do you feel this Skopje as yours (if the answer is yes, in which way)?
Do you feel Skopje 2014 as a threat to your na onal iden ty?
How does this project aect the present experience of Macedonians?
Would you nd Skopje 2014 more acceptable if other heroes from other ethnic
groups were represented (i.e. yours)?
What do you think is missing in this Project (as building's style, monument or other)?
What would you add?
What would you take away?