Implementation of the Ohrid framework agreement: Trends in tolerance among the youth in the Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract

The Republic of North Macedonia is a multicultural country
composed of various ethnic and religious groups. Macedonia was
the only ex-Yugoslav state to gain its independence without a violent
clash within the country or against other post-Yugoslav republics.
However, in 2001 the two major ethnic groups, the Macedonians
and Albanians fought against each other in an armed conflict,
which resulted in the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement
and promoted minority rights in the republic. Almost two decades
after the conflict, ethnic tensions have been limited to sporadic
hostilities usually prompted by sporting events and political rallies.
Today, promoting tolerance among ethnic groups is one of the key
issues in the political agenda of the main political parties, both
Macedonian and Albanian. This paper will examine tolerance in
the Republic of North Macedonia by analyzing the implementation
of the Framework Agreement in the area of education, languages
and minority rights. Moreover, the paper will present a research
on trends in tolerance among youth from urban areas in North
Macedonia conducted during the autumn of 2019.