IDENTITY WITH A PRICE: CONSUMPTION AND THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

As the disintegration of socialist Yugoslavia took place, the overarching 'Yugoslavian' identity ceased to exist for most people within the Macedonian Republic. Identity soon was based on the access to consumer goods. From this a powerful transformation took place, transforming daily life and webs of meaning. 'Identity' redefined internal and external boundaries. This article illuminates the local dynamics and global forces of the disintegration of Yugoslavia on a group of young female engineers in Macedonia in the context of historical, political and economic processes. The research on which this article is based ranges from 1988 to 1996.