How Macedonism Saved Macedonians

The existence of the Macedonian nation is unfortunately viewed as an anti-Bulgarian plot created by an outside hostile force. Is the Macedonian nation inherently anti-Bulgarian and who is responsible for its existence? I felt that it was important to make a video on this topic because i believe that the mainstream thesis on the Macedonian ethnogenesis in Bulgaria is only doing harm to Bulgaria and the Macedono-Bulgarian relations. Besides, this channel is called "PublicNemesisMedia", it's one of its main points to challenge mainstream narratives. Also, this might be my most provocative video yet, but it's in good faith (feel free to have a laugh).

[slavchomarinov]

If the Macedonian ethnic-identity was natural then there wouldn‘t have been the need for Tito and his local henchmen to use violence and repression to instill it in people‘s heads after WW2.

There hardly is a topic regarding people that is 100% clear cut and usually the truth lies somewhere in the middle. But if it lies more closely to one extreme than the other then the other, then so far as an aspect as a national identity should go, it would be preferable to be moved exactly to it (just like you can‘t be half-pregnant or sorta pregnant), rather than allow small minorities rattle politics and create chaos.

Fun fact: Bulgaria is one of the very few countries in Europe (probably the only one) that doesn‘t have established separatist movements in any of it‘s regions. You probably can find some autist in Dobrudzha that will tell you that his region needs to secede based on the slightly different folklore and traditional clothes worn there, but that doesn‘t mean that most of his neighbours won‘t laugh at the idea.

At the other end of the spectrum there are nations like the Germans who, regardless where they have established, have always identified themselves more with their regional identity than with their national one. For example Baltic Germans in the Russian Empire, who were of noble origin since the times of the Livonian and Teutonic orders, were looking down on their countrymen, that had settled the Volga, referring to them as peasants, despite them speaking the same language in a country that spoke a completely different one. So no ethnic solidarity there.

In the same way German Americans that enlisted in the US army in WW2 had no problem bombing the village their grandfather used to come from (there were many such documented cases). Wherever the German went he immediately started to think of himself as a part of the host country, even if he continues speaking German at home. So it‘s ok to have a regional identity but you shouldn‘t always try to make a national identity out of it. I mean - you can. But I don‘t think it‘s healthy.

[dayanbalevski]

Serbophilia is undoubtedly present in North Macedonia, they watch Serbian TV and listen to Serbian music, they love Vucic - in some ways Serbia does control the minds in North Macedonia, whether we like it or not... I am not sure I can 100% agree with your view, however yes I do agree that Bulgarians do give Serbians and Serb influence too much weight when in reality it is the North Macedonians themselves who love Serbia and not because Serbia is trying hard to win their love.

However, Serbia does play the waiting game when it comes to interfering, they did not say a word or take any sides when Greece was arguing with North Macedonia, and they did not say a word when Bulgaria was either, but this tactic is playing in their favour... if they had told North Macedonia to stop stealing Bulgarian or Greek history, then they would have lost North Macedonian influence which they get for free. The same with the fact that Serbians didn't invent "Macedonianism" but they didn't go against it either... they just play their cards so that Macedonia would be far away from Bulgaria, and they let it happen without a word even supporting it whenever possible.

Serbia is yet to release their UDBA documents about their actions in North Macedonia, so there is still lots of things we do not know about what they actually did - maybe you will be shocked.

I also don't want to say that "Macedonians are total NPCS who can be manipulated easily" (5:15) - but yes I think so... a majority of them are sadly and there is alot of evidence for that... Also historically the region of Vardar Macedonia was very poorly educated, the majority of the population were village folks, except the ones who went to Bulgarian schools and became heroes and freedom fighters such as Goce Delcev.

Also you didn't really talk about "Ancient Macedonism" which I think is seperate from regular "Macedonism"

21:50 - "Serbia has no benefits from Macedoniansm" - I can't believe you said that... I don't think you thought that through. If Serbia didn't support Macedonism then Macedonia could have been part of Bulgaria today, and Bulgaria would have been much bigger and more powerful/unified, which would tip the scales against Serbia. Also, how do you explain 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian war and the Second Balkan War, where Serbia was trying to capture Macedonia and other western territories?

Clearly Serbia historically wanted Bulgarian territories in the Western regions of Bulgaria which includes Macedonia and how do you explain the popular saying "Южни Сърби"?

[ivanmilanov]

We needed this perspective NemesisMedia! Thank you!

[slavchomarinov]

I don‘t think that Bulgarians would‘ve had such a hard time accepting Macedonianism even as a new national identity if it didn‘t equate in practice to anti-Bulgarianism.

In Macedonia even today you cannot freely claim you‘re Bulgarian and not suffer any repercussions from the state. The same thing was in Tito‘s Yugoslavia.

[kolevs]

I love your channel and enjoy every video you make, because your content is something I really wanted and never found anywhere else. From years I felt like our bulgarian point of view was one-sided, like we did nothing wrong, everyone was against us and the macedonians were complete idiots. When I tried to read the macedonian point of view on the web, all I found was anti-bulgarian and rejecting all evidence. Both sides were just following their ideologies. And then I found you searching for the truth over any ideology, questioning every point of view and only following evidence. I really loved this video and the way it made me see the subject in a totally new way that also made me feel good. Respect for your work, keep it up!
Пожелавам ти успех, здраве и всичко най-хубаво!

[yavory]

If something was published to the general public in the 1960s, does that mean it was not known to the ruling class before then?

[Будниот]

One thing i want to add on the Tito part is that, his only part that did with the creation of the Macedonian nation is that he wanted and did made it to be anti-bulgarian. I theorize that one of the reasons why he arrested and killed many of the politicians from the first government in Socialist Macedonia is that they weren't anti-bulgarian. In fact when the Bulgarian army started leaving Macedonia in ww2, many of them stayed and joined the partisans that fought together against the Germans. In the First session of ASNOM( прво заседание на АСНОМ ), they even signed, ,Изгрей зора на свободата" wich is a Bulgarian anthem for IMRO.

[grundgesetzart.]

My great-grandparents were born in Prilep and Bitolja. They spoke Bulgarian and saw themselves as Bulgarians. There was no such thing as a "Macedonian" nation. Just some specific dialects. The "Macedonians" we see are the result of an intense campaign to "Serbify" them (sorry, don't know what other fitting term to use here). Has the Servbian government financed this video? lol. As for the Pirin region, the people there see themselves as Bulgarian too. If you hate Bulgaria so much, don't come to us to seek jobs and to get EU passports. Enjoy your great country and leave ours alone. By the way, you will see the EU through a twisted noodle - aka never.

[josepud]

I gave your video a like. Considering Bulgaria was in the 19th and 20th century surrounded by geopolitical enemies on all sides and also didn't hold much sway with the Great Powers - the tzardom still did OK. Macedonians are free and they speak their own language and worship Goce, Dame, Samuil, VMRO and Kliment. It's a W.

[NikolaNevenov]

I feel the main premise of the video, namely attacking the notion that Serbia is the sole reason for Macedonianism, among the macedonian bulgarians, is good.
However I think in the process you kind of painted Serbia as an innocent bystander that got dragged into the conflict between the two groups(bulgarians and macedonian bulgarians).

The fact that Novakovic was contemplating in that letter, how to more effectively subvert the bulgarian identity of the macedonian bulgarians, suggests that in the political and intellectual elite of Serbia, ever since the 1800s, the goal was to destroy the bulgarian identity of macedonian bulgarians and bring them on the path of serbiazation. That being said it's clear that Macedonism wasn't invented in Serbia. Novakovic speaks that they could use Macedonianism as a tool, which means that by that time, Macedonianism as an ideology was popular enough, and not some obscure view spoken in private and in some dimly lit rooms.
If not anything else, that whole notion to me is horrible and a sin on Serbia, it's elite and it's nation. Since it's goal is to put division and hate among kindred people who had no desire for this division and hate in the first place.
Now it's a bit naive to think that Tito was totally unaware of the idea of Macedonianism. The "creation" of the macedonian nation and language at the end of WWII suggests that the communists quite well knew and understood this notion. But I would go out and express my doubts about Tito's own love for Serbia. Him being a Jew I doubt he cared about ethnic serbian interests. So I doubt him having a devious plan to promote macedonianism so the macedonians get serbiazed.

Another part is the communist angle. While some historians in the past might have expressed the notion that exterior forces were to blame the proliferation of Macedonianism in Macedonia. In the past years after the declassification and public publishing of secret documents of the communist party, it became clear that the main group to blame for this lie was indeed the bulgarian communist party. Which in tern not only declared a separate macedonian ethnicity, but also stopped sending any aid to Macedonia(prior to this Bulgaria was constantly sainding aid to Macedonia). And I hear that, that's the reason why Mecodnianism grew since naturally in Yugoslavia, serbiazation was somehow inevitable during Tito's regime, so the ethnic bulgarians in macedonia had two choices, either accept serbiazation or macedonianism, since communist Bulgaria showed no interest in preserving their bulgarian identity.

Now after the fall of communism, while not being the creators of it, I think Serbia is supportive of the macedonian identity and thus distancing the macedonians from bulgarians. Oddly prophetically envisioned by Novakovic. There are few nationalist and patriotic groups in bulgaria that visit macedonia and the macedonian bulgarians there. Their reports from locals say, that the average macedonian has no hate towards bulgarians and overall are open to the idea of bulgarians and macedonians sharing a common root. But the vile anti-bulgarian macedonianism is propagandized mainly by an elite group that is pro-serbian. Kind of an old communist remnant elite(like in much of the ex communist countries), who were pro-serbian since Serbia was the leader in Yugoslavia.


In the end I think the whole hate among bulgarians, serbs, macedonians is kind of stupid. Not because there are no historical reasons, but because all I see is that we are being played by higher forces to be at each other's throats while in the same time we are kindred people. I often bring this up, and I will keep bringing it up because it speaks volumes. Genetic studies show that on the balkans bulgarians, macedonians and romanians are genetically super close to each other, and serbs are kind of halfway between this group and austrians, but still closer to this group. Thus in a way we are one big kindred family.

[BalkanSlav]

Interesting video... Are you sure about there being no Comintern plan of creating Thracian, Dobrogean and Moesian nations?

[libertyisparamount]

22:43 BS. Instantly recognized Macedonian sovereignty in 1991. If it wasn't for this, the serbian military would have occupied it. Also, it seems you're taking for granted online and TV morons debate for granted as Bulgarian policy. Wrong. And the reason politicians stick to Yugoslavia is so they don't involve a third party in the issue, Greece.

[pelagonianlion]

Macedonian Australian here.

Very unique perspective on the whole 'creation of the macedonian nation' question. Which always revolves around Tito's cuban cigar smoking schemes.

I like this idea. But would you concede the fact that after Bulgarians themselves invented the Macedonian identity, that this project was then hijacked by the Yugoslav communists which then put an anti-bulgarian twist on it?

[AlexanderKKolarov]

Brother, our history books change soooo slow it will be miracle if this happens in our lifetimes

[salec]

I am glad this isn't Serbian problem any more. Please don't be to others like we were, nor like some were to us. Peace and love all - that will get anyone anything they really need, but not necessary what they want.

[mcsroom]

while there are some wrong things in the video the main idea should be supported as the idea that serbia created macedonia completlly alone is ridiculous and too common

[Rai-Bulgaria]

That pic of Pavelic and Vancho Mihailov sitting next to each other at 16:03 is one of my fav pics in the world.

[StarkillerTheSith]

Great research! Although, I'd call it a draw, rather than a victory. 😅

[dzivri]

This is just a small YouTube channel but you’re doing wonders. It’s very difficult for a person to face the fact that all they’re hearing, all they’ve ever learned is nothing more than propaganda. The same goes for Macedonians, who up until a few years ago didn’t even know that they had a shared history with Bulgaria, and the same goes with Bulgarians who have fallen victim to this claim that the “Sebo-communists” created Macedonians.
Unless one is prepared to let go of preconceived notions and decides to do their own research, they’ll never find the truth . Not to mention, the truth is REALLY REALLY difficult to find. Because the importance of the work of insignificant people like Stojan Novaković, or even K.P. Misirkov, has been blown out of proportion. Kudos to you buddy 👏👏👏

[ivanparushev]

Love this video! :D I have to say that Balkan history is very complex and most people are not that smart... that is why there are so many dumb comments online. Having said that I don't think that you are right about "Bulgarian historians believing Macedonism is Serbian invention". Macedonism was clearly Bulgarian invention. It was created due to the realisation that the Great Powers will NEVER allow for unification. If not united, then the second best option would be to have an independent nation that is closely aligned with Bulgaria. Maybe unite in at a future time.

However, at some point Serbian/Yugoslav propaganda managed to make Macedonians absolutely hate and despise Bulgarians. So, In a way, you could say everybody won. Mecedons won, Serbs won, Bulgaria won. Ottoman empire lost..