Between the Chance at a Better Life and Abandonment: Local Responses to EU Border Regimes in North Macedonia

Sažetak

North Macedonia occupies a central position along the so-called Balkan route, which stretches from the Southeast Asia and Africa to Northern and Western Europe. The country has a long history of significant seasonal cross-border migration, connecting the region with the rest of Europe. It has primarily been a country of emigration, with a long tradition of mobility within the Ottoman Empire and Yugoslavia, and subsequently to Western Europe and other overseas destinations. In 2015 and 2016, North Macedonia became a transit country for around one million people and its transit role continues for a smaller number of people today. Drawing on ethnographic research, this paper examines local responses to mobility regimes and injustices using the example of two border villages: Lojane/Llojan and Tabanovce. It explores the changes to the natural and social landscape that create new connections and dependencies between migrants, non-governmental organizations, local residents, and the Macedonian state. I identify three factors that shape the narratives and practices of both the local population and the authorities: a long history of migration to and from Macedonia, a sense of abandonment by the state and international institutions, and the temporary nature of refugee centers.

Ključne riječi: North Macedonia, border regimes, local responses, ethnography