HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

It’s about heritage. Macedonia’s proposed name change to North Macedonia stems from a long dispute with Greece, which also has a region called Macedonia. Both are part of a former Roman province bearing the name and claim links to Alexander the Great. During the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, Greece opposed the new country’s proposed name, seeing it as an attempt to lay claim to the Greek territory and telling the UN it would only accept the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). But the name “Macedonia” stuck anyway. Other suggested name changes include New Macedonia, Nova Makedonija, Slavo-Macedonia, the Republic of Skopje, the Upper Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Upper Macedonia. North Macedonia was suggested earlier this year.

Call me by your name. Macedonia’s future in the EU and NATO is now in limbo. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev says he’ll still call a parliamentary vote on the name change — but such a constitutional change could be derailed by the opposition arguing that low turnout rendered the vote invalid. European leaders are still offering their encouragement, however, with heads of NATO and the EU calling on Macedonians to “seize this historic opportunity.” Meanwhile, an early national election may be called to shore up support if the change doesn’t pass Parliament, postponing the naming for at least 45 days.

Winners and losers. The results of the plebiscite allowed both sides to claim victory. While the ruling party and pro-EU groups cited the 90-percent voter support for a name change, Macedonia’s nationalist opposition claimed victory after their successful boycott invalidated the results by dampening turnout enough to keep the referendum from official legitimacy. It was also seen as a victory for Russia, which is accused of spreading online disinformation and funding right-wing groups in Macedonia in order to curb the Western influence that would likely result should the country join NATO and the EU.

Buy in. Many countries have changed their names for reasons varying from marketing to self-determination, especially after gaining independence. Earlier this year, Swaziland’s King Mswati III announced an official name change to “eSwatini,” which he says will lessen confusion with the name Switzerland. Cities have also changed their names: Leningrad in Russia changed its name to St. Petersburg after a 1991 referendum, reverting to its original name after it was changed following Communist leader Vladimir Lenin’s death in 1924. Sometimes new names fail to catch on, as when the Czech Republic changed its official short name in English to Czechia in 2016 — a switch that has failed to penetrate international consciousness.

WHAT TO READ

For Macedonia, Is Joining NATO and the EU Worth the Trouble? by Florian Bieber at Foreign Policy
"Before the global economic and financial crisis, the Greek bailout, Brexit, and the refugee crises, citizens of the Western Balkans widely saw joining the union as a guarantee for prosperity and stability. Today, it is seen somewhat differently."

The Man Who Has Focused on One Word for 23 Years, on the BBC
"One ordinary citizen in Skopje once said to me: ‘When I get up in the morning and I’m shaving, I look in the mirror and say, I’m a Macedonian. Well, tomorrow, when I’m shaving, do you expect me to say, I’m a New Macedonian or I’m an Upper Macedonian?’"

WHAT TO WATCH