The Dynamics of an (Armed) Conflict: The Albanian Minority in the Republic of North Macedonia

Macedonia was considered an oasis of peace in the Balkans during the 1990s, as it was the only country of the former Yugoslavia where there was no armed conflict. This changed in 2001 with a so-called “war”, which ended quite quickly, partly thanks to international intervention. Although armed conflicts in the region have not recurred in a prolonged form, almost every year new short-lived disturbances, protests, and incidents arise. This article analyses the conflict’s dynamics from the establishment of independent Macedonia to the present day as North Macedonia continues to develop and implement positive reforms for minority integration. It emphasizes the root causes of the dispute, which remain unresolved, as the Albanian minority is growing in numbers, while Macedonians, whose population is falling, observe the changes with uncertainty.