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The use of built environments in the formation and change of national identities: the case of Macedonia and 'Skopje 2014'

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posted on 2024-07-12, 12:36 authored by Gjoko Muratovski
The aim of this paper is to examine the process of national identity formation and change. In order to do so, theories of 'narrative identity' [Ricoeur 1991] and 'invented traditions' [Hobsbawm and Ranger 1983] are used to address issues related to emerging national causes [Castells 1997], transitional countries [Szondi 2007] and EU integration [Pieterse 1991]. The main focus of this paper is the use of built environments as a signifier of national identity, alongside other signifiers such as the language, flag, emblem or anthem. While the expressive power of built environments as a signifier of social, economic or political authority during times of prosperity is widely recognised in the literature [Castoriadis 1987; Zizek 1989; Mayo 1996; Sudjic 2006; Sklair 2010], their role during times of political crisis (such as during times of critical national restructuring) has not been fully studied or theorised [Diamond 2003; Kaika 2010]. This paper contributes to this discussion and argues that built environments (e.g. urban planning and design, architecture, and monuments), when used as a form of national propaganda, can help a nation to define its identity and can project the nation's vision for the future. A particular case that will be examined includes Macedonia and the controversial 'Skopje 2014' government-funded project for the redevelopment of the Skopje city centre. The argument will be presented through qualitative theory that incorporates hermeneutic and semiotic analysis of gathered information. This means that I will be (a) interpreting information from a historical and theoretical perspective, and (b) analysing the examples referred to, by assessing the connections between and complexities that arise from the interplay of architecture and politics. Furthermore, I will adopt an interpretative/positivist methodological approach that builds systematic and explanatory theory with concepts grounded in data generated from qualitative studies.

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ISSN

2000-5377

Journal title

Postcolonial Europe

Publisher

Postcolonial Europe

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Copyright © 2013 Postcolonial Europe. the published version is reproduced with the permission of the publisher.

Language

eng

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