Macedonian nationalism

Macedonian nationalism (Macedonian: македонски национализам, pronounced [makɛdonski nat͡sionalizam]), sometimes referred to as Macedonianism and Macedonism, is a general grouping of nationalist ideas and concepts among ethnic Macedonians that were first formed in the second half of the 19th century among separatists seeking the autonomy of the region of Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire. The movement began as a cultural reaction against Greek, Turkish, and Patriarchist influences, and was fueled by the broader political and social changes within the Ottoman Empire. Over time, it grew into a rejection of Bulgarian, Greek, and Serbian nationalist campaigns to assimilate Macedonia, ultimately culminating during World War II with the proclamation of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, when the separate Macedonian nation gained formal recognition. Macedonian historiography has since established links between the ethnic Macedonians and various historical events and individual figures that occurred in and originated from Macedonia, which range from the Middle Ages up to the 20th century. Following the independence of the Republic of Macedonia in the late 20th century, the country's neighbours have disputed the existence of the Macedonian national identity. Extreme forms of Macedonian nationalism arose, which hold beliefs such as an unbroken continuity between ancient Macedonians and modern ethnic Macedonians, as well as advocating the irredentist concept of a United Macedonia, which involves large portions of Greece and Bulgaria, alongside smaller portions of Albania, Kosovo and Serbia.

Terminology

During the first half of the second millennium, the concept of Macedonia on the Balkans was associated by the Byzantines with their Macedonian province, centered around Adrianople in modern-day Turkey. After the conquest of the Balkans by the Ottomans in the late 14th and early 15th century, the Greek name Macedonia disappeared as a geographical designation for several centuries. The central and northern areas of modern Macedonia were often called "Bulgaria" or "Lower Moesia" during Ottoman rule. The name "Macedonia" was rediscovered during the Renaissance by western researchers, who introduced ancient Greek geographical names in their work, although used in a rather loose manner.