Intellectual Elite in Exile

ISBN-13: 9783845477442 / Angielski / Miękka / 68 str.

Aleksandar Zdravkovski

Opis

This thesis concerns the formation of the Macedonian Scientific and Literary Society by a group of students at the University of St. Petersburg and its involvement in the Macedonian Question. It argues that the emergence of the MSLS was inspired by ideas of a separate Macedonian Slav identity that the students sought to translate into a platform for a prospective independent Macedonian state. This state was initially imagined as an autonomous Ottoman protectorate with provisions for an officially recognized language, nationality, and an autocephalous Orthodox Church. The development and modification of this idea is traced to accommodate local realities such as the Balkan Wars. Contrary to contemporary attitudes, it is shown that the movement of Macedonian students in St. Petersburg led by Dimitrija upovski was not an implement of the governments of Serbia, Bulgaria or Russia to further their own agendas. Through an examination of documents and publications produced by the MSLS as well as memoirs and letters, it is argued that this student organization developed an intricate national platform whose implementation in Macedonia was challenged by social and political circumstances.

O autorze

The author holds an LLB in Legal Studies from the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje and an MA in Comparative History of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe from Central European University in Budapest. His research interests focus on turn-of-the-century nationalism and expatriate communities in the context of Macedonia.