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

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.