THE SOCIAL DISTANCE AND INTERETHNIC RELATIONS IN MACEDONIA

This paper will deal with issues related to social distance between ethnic groups in Macedonia. Our intention is to define the development of democracy, 20 years after pluralism. The questions which this paper tends to answer are: Based on the social aspect is Macedonia transforming to state of citizens, as were the expectations of the majority or is it becoming state of one ethnicity? How much is social justice oriented to service the needs of citizens? Is there discrimination on ethical basis? Based on their prejudices how many citizens are willing to become neighbors, get married or buy on each other's stores? The separations between different nationalities influence the interaction among them. For some fields this social distance is considered as normal, but on the other hand some reports between them are very formal and isolated. We can freely say that there are differences between groups in fundamentally important group values. The differences among Macedonian citizens within Macedonia who identify themselves, and are identified by others, as "Macedonian" or "Albanian," are simply huge. This may be observed through surveys of students, walking around, looking around, and talking with people in this country. METHODOLOGY This research is done using the scientific literature regarding the social distance between communities in Macedonia with special emphasis on the relationship between Macedonians and Albanians. For the research purposes are used various methods and techniques for collection of photographic material. It is also analyzed and interpreted of the data. There are also used previous statistical data and research related with this social phenomenon. In order to have first-hand quantitative data we have also used the Likert questionnaire. We consider that this is a very useful type of questions while we need to have a general measurement of feelings about a particular topic of study; thoughts, or experience and to collect specific data on factors contributing to the feeling.