Culture as a primary good: The case of Macedonia

Abstract

In dealing with issue primary goods must we take into account national belonging as a particularly important form of cultural belonging? In multicultural countries, with tense inter-ethnic relations possible solutions may be position according to which it is impossible to ignore cultural belonging (more precisely, national belonging) when discussing primary goods. From this standing point, respecting politics of recognition is the main goal to these difficult social/cultural/political conflicts. If we accept politics of recognition as the way to raise claims for equal respect, for being recognized as full persons, given and not despite one's different identity, culture must be seen as one of primary goods. In that context, culture recognition is just response to the universal claim to be respected. Respect is always assigned indirectly and often, but not always, by means of acknowledging and granting specific rights. In Macedonian case culture is one of primary goods, pointing out necessity of inclusion in society. International community thought the Framework Agreement directed government's attention toward linguistic and cultural recognition of minority communities. In this way it is emphasized the importance of ethnic belonging rather than the bonds of common citizenship as ultimate values of the individuals living in the country. Citizens of Macedonia are seen as members of ethnic groups rather than simply counted as citizens of the republic. In Macedonian case culture is one of primary goods, pointing out necessity of inclusion in society, but do not provide an equal treatment of all citizens because this was not political necessity. In Constitution the accent was put on the worth of individuals based on ethnic criteria whereby certain ethnic groups were to be put in more privileged positions than others. Article proves that culture is one of primary goods because is a vital component of individual identity, but in practice, in Macedonia, theory is not fulfills completely, it is subordinated to political solution without equal status of all ethnic communities.