Patriotism – YES, nationalism – NO!

CIVIL is implementing the project “Patriotism – YES, nationalism – NO!”, with the aim to strengthen coexistence, improving relations with neighbors and accelerating Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

A key issue that the project will deal with is the fact that nationalism has a devastating effect on the integration processes and overall on the entire country. The project is implemented in an extremely important and delicate time for the country, given the fact that there is an ongoing process of resolving the name dispute, as well as that there are major steps in regards to the EU and NATO integrations.

The goal of the project is to explain the difference between patriotism and nationalism and to show the benefits and consequences of nationalism, which will contribute to strengthening coexistence, improving of relations with neighbors and accelerating the Euro-Atlantic integration processes of Macedonia.

With this project, in which there will be 120 contents in just 11 weeks, as much as the initial phase lasts, CIVIL will clearly show the difference between patriotism and nationalism. One helps the country, while the other one affects it destructively. The citizens will be given a unique opportunity to follow and be part of a public dialogue, will educate themselves and will be given the opportunity to contribute to overcoming the consequences of nationalism.

CIVIL’s teams will ask the following questions: “What is patriotism, and what is nationalism? What are the benefits and consequences from them? What can the citizens, and what can the institutions and other structures of power in the country do in order to overcome the consequences of the destructive effect of nationalism?

The answers will be sought through surveys, columns and interviews, and analyses and recommendations will also be prepared that the organization will announce at meetings with the media and the citizens, as well as with institutions at the local and national level.

The project is finances by the CIVICA MOBILITAS program.