Macedonian diaspora

The Macedonian diaspora is a term used to refer to the communities of ethnic Macedonian people living outside of the region of Macedonia. A 1964 estimate put the number of Macedonian emigrants at over 580,000. [*Harvard reference
last=Topolinjska
first=Z.
year=1998
title=In place of a foreword: facts about the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian language
journal=International Journal of the Sociology of Language
issue=131
pages=1-11]

History

The Macedonian Diaspora was the consequence of either voluntary departure or forced migration over the past 150 years. They occurred in six major waves.Peter Hill, The Macedonians in Australia, (Victoria Park: Hesperian Press, 1989]

*1. The First wave occurred after the Failure of the Ilinden Uprisingin 1903. Many people fled to other parts of Ottoman empire, Bulgaria, Egypt, Russia, USA and Canada.
*2. The "Pečalba" tradition which was common across Macedonia. Many people settled in the host countries. The pečalbari migrate from the 1880s to the 1920s. Large settlements occurred in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey and the United States.
*3. Many people fled the persecution and discrimination of post World War One governments in the region, most notably the Metaxas Regime in Greece. Most of these immigrants were Aegean Macedonians. They went to Turkey, the United States and Canada.
*4. Post World War Two and the Greek Civil War thousands of Macedonians fled, were evacuated or emigrated. Many people fled in 1941 to escape the Bulgarian occupation of Macedonia. More still were evacuated after the failure of the DSE, the National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) to win the Greek Civil War. An estimated 55,000 people were evacuated to Romania, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the rest of the Eastern Bloc [http://faq.macedonia.org/history/12.1.3.html Macedonia FAQ: Aegean Macedonians Address to UNHCR ] ] . Many Aegean Macedonians emigrate to Australia, Canada and France.
*5. During the 1960s Yugoslavia lifted restrictions on emigration. Hundreds of thousands of Macedonians emigrated. Internal Yugoslav migration was also very prevalent, by 1991 an estimated 80,000 Macedonians were living throughout Yugoslavia. Primary destinations were Australia, France, Germany, Serbia, Italy, Sweden and Norway
*6. After the Breakup of Yugoslavia thousands of Macedonians emigrated. Many went to Germany, Italy and Switzerland [Peter Hill, The Macedonians in Australia, (Victoria Park: Hesperian Press, 1989.]

Today

Diaspora by country

Argentina

Many Macedonians of Argentina are the descendants of the "pečalbari" (seasonal workers) who came to Argentina in the early 20th century. Many decided to stay in Argentina setting up Macedonian colonies in the Pampas and other regions. Most Macedonians can be found in Buenos Aires, the Pampas and Córdoba. An estimated 30,000 Macedonians can be found in Argentina.Nasevski, Boško; Angelova, Dora. Gerovska, Dragica (1995). Македонски Иселенички Алманах '95. Skopje: Матица на Иселениците на Македонија.]

Austria

Thousand of Macedonians emigrated to Austria during the years of the Yugoslav federation. Many were temporary workers. After the Breakup of Yugoslavia many returned to Macedonia but a large proportion of the minority remianed. In recent years migration to Austria has increased. By 2001 there were 13,696 Macedonian citizens in Austria [ [ftp://www.statistik.at/pub/neuerscheinungen/vzaustriaweb.pdf 2001 census ] - Tabelle 13: Ausländer nach Staatsangehörigkeit (ausgewählte Staaten), Altersgruppen und Geschlecht - page 74] , however the Macedonian government put's the figure at 15,000.http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc] Commmunity spokesperson however put the figure at over 25,000 people, claiming many Macedonians from other parts of the Former Yugoslavia also are present in Austria.

Australia

In the 2006 Census, 40,656 Australian residents are listed as having been born in the Republic of Macedonia. [ [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?breadcrumb=TLPD&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&subaction=-1&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&documentproductno=0&textversion=false&documenttype=Details&collection=Census&javascript=true&topic=Birthplace&action=404&productlabel=Country%20of%20Birth%20of%20Person%20by%20Sex&order=1&period=2006&tabname=Details&areacode=0&navmapdisplayed=true& 2006 Census Table: Country of Birth of Person by Sex] ] . In addition, 83,978 residents declared their ancestry as Macedonian, either alone or in combination with another ancestry [ [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?breadcrumb=TLPD&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&subaction=-1&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&documentproductno=0&textversion=false&documenttype=Details&collection=Census&javascript=true&topic=Ancestry&action=404&productlabel=Ancestry%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&order=1&period=2006&tabname=Details&areacode=0&navmapdisplayed=true& 2006 Census Table: Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex] ] . In 2001 the Macedonian language was spoken at home by 71,994 residents [ [http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?breadcrumb=TLPD&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&subaction=-1&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&documentproductno=0&textversion=false&documenttype=Details&collection=Census&javascript=true&topic=Language&action=404&productlabel=Language%20Spoken%20at%20Home%20by%20Sex&order=1&period=2006&tabname=Details&areacode=0&navmapdisplayed=true& 2006 Census Table: Language Spoken at Home by Sex] ] .

The Macedonians in Australia comprise of many refugees from the Greek Civil War. Although the Majority are from the Republic of Macedonia having migrated to Australia from the 1960s to the early 1990s. Community spokespersons put the number of Macedonians at over 350,000 people [ [http://www.macedonianhr.org.au/ Official Macedonian Human Rights Website - Australia ] ] . The Republic of Macedonia claims that there are 200,000 Macedonians in Australia. [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Population Estimate from the MFA] ] Demographer Charles Price puts the number of Macedonians in Australia at over 150,000 people.

Brazil

An estimated 45,000 people in Brazil are of Macedonian Ancestry. Many Pečalbari (seasonal workers) came to Brazil in the early 1900s looking for work. Many of them stayed and established themselves in Brazil. The Macedonians of Brazil can be found in Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba. Many of the descendants no longer speak the Macedonian language.

Canada

The Macedonian Community of Canada is one of the largest and oldest Macedonian diaspora groups in the world. Many refugees from the Balkan Wars and World War One emigrated to Canada in the early 20th Century. They were joined by Aegean Macedonians in the 1920's and 1930's. Another wave of refugees arrived after World War Two. Many emigrants from Greece began to arrive in the 1950's and 1960's joined by Yugoslav Macedonians.

Czech Republic

The Macedonians in the Czech Republic are mainly descended from the Refugee Children who were resettled in the former Czechoslovakia. It was estimated that 11,623 people were resettled in Czechoslovakia. Many later decided to return to the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, which shaprly reduced the communities numbers. Although Many decided to stay in the Czech Republic.

Denmark

Former Yugoslavia

During the Years of the Former Yugoslavia thousands of Macedonians Emigrated to the other constituent republics. Many settled there permanently although most were temporary migrants. By 1980 there were large Macedonian population in every major city of the former Yugoslavia.http://www.ucm.es/BUCM/revistas/ghi/0214400x/articulos/CHCO9393110171A.PDF] Over 60,000 Macedonians were scattered throughout the rest of Yugoslavia by 1991.

Croatia

Macedonians have been emigrating to Croatia since the end of World War Two. Their numbers have fluctuating from 1,387 in 1948, 2,385 in 1953, 4,381 in 1961 and 5,625 in 1971. In 1981 there were 6,362 Macedonians in Croatia, this number fell to 4,270 in 2001. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in Croatia. It is claimed that up to 15,000 Macedonians live in Croatia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Many Macedonians emigrated to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1960s and 1970's. Many Macedonians such as Branko Crvenkovski and Stevo Teodosievski were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their numbers have fluctuating from 657 in 1948, 2,297 in 1953, 3,642 in 1961 and 3,764 in 1971. In 1981 there were 2,753 Macedonians in Bosnia, this number fell to 2,278 in 2005. Most Macedonians left Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War, many returned after the War.

Montenegro

A small Macedonian population had existed in Montenegro since the early 1900s. By 1948 only 133 Macedonians remained in Montenegro, this number rose to 875 in 1981. 1,072 Macedonians were counted in the 1991 Yugoslav Census, this number had fallen to 819 by 2003. Macedonian was the mother language of 507 people. The Macedonians were concentrated in Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Tivat.

erbia

Thousand of Macedonian joined the Partisans and fought in Serbia and the rest of Yugoslavia. Many decided to remain in Serbia. Tens of thousands of Macedonian migrants emigrated to Serbia during the years of the Yugoslav federation. Their numbers have fluctuating significantly from 17,917 in 1948, 27,277 in 1953, 36,288 in 1961 and 42,675 in 1971. In 1981 there were 48,986 Macedonians in Serbia, this number fell to 46,046 in 1991. In 2002 there were 25,847 Macedonians in Serbia.

Large Macedonian centers were established in Vojvodina and Belgrade. Most Notably in Pancevo, Kacarevo (19%), Jabuka (33%), Plandiste (21.3%), Glogonj (12%) and Dužine (31%). By 1965 65% of Jabuka, 40% of Kacarevo [http://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%BE] and 39% of Plandiste were Macedonian. Many Macedonians chose to leave Serbia after the collapse of the Yugoslav Federation. Macedonian was soon recognised as a Minority language [ [http://www.maticanaiselenici.com/?page=read_news&id=60&PHPSESSID=c624ce197aa17b7be3cd7c579a36cb93 Матица на иселениците - Македонија ] ] and the Macedonians became a recognised minority. Today they enjoy full minority rights.

lovenia

During the years of the Yugoslav federation, many Macedonians migrated to the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. Most of them came from the east of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and they settled mainly in the town of Kranj and the capital Ljubljana. Macedonian communities can be also found in larger towns such as Jesenice, Nova Gorica, Maribor and Celje. Around 450 Macedonians reside in the Celje region. The Macedonians are well established in Slovenia and currently have Newspapers, Churches, Folkloric Groups and many other Macedonian Institutions in operation. The 1951 Yugoslav census recorded 640 Macedonians while the 1961 census recorded 1,009 Macedonians. By 1971 the number had grown to 1,613 and to 3,288 by 1981. The 1991 Yugoslav census recorded 4,371 Macedonians.http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Dialog/Saveshow.asp] The 2002 census recorded 3,972 Macedonians, while 4,760 people claimed that Macedonian was their mother language up from the 4,535 in 1991 [ [http://www.stat.si/pxweb/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=SLO-09E&ti=++++Population+by+mother+tongue%2C+Slovenia%2C+Census+1991+and+2002&path=../Database/Census2002/Slovenia/Population/Demographic%20characteristics/&lang=1 Table: Population by mother tongue, Slovenia, Census 1991 and 2002 ] ] . Ethnic Macedonian organization claim that the number of Macedonians in Slovenia exceeds 12,000.

France

Thousands of Macedonians left Yugoslavia in the 1920s and 1930's to work in France. Many of these were unskilled immigrants and returned to Macedonia after finishing their work in France. After World War Two many returned this time as immigrants. Most of the immigrants originated from the Struga, Ohrid and Kicevo regions. They were primarily settled in migrant hostels and "ghettoes". More still emigrated to France after the breakup of Yugoslavia. The French Government estimates the numebr of Macedonians in France to be 2,300 [ [http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/pays-zones-geo_833/macedoine-arym_442/presentation-macedoine-arym_991/donnees-generales_12144.html French 2005 Estimates] ] while Macedonian figures put the number at over 15,000 persons.

Hungary

After the Greek Civil War many Macedonians were evacuated to Hungary. Many left for the Socialist Republic of Macedonia in the 1950s and 1960's. Although a substantial minority remained of the 7,253 who fled Greece. An estimated 5,000 Macedonians resided in Hungary in 1995.

Germany

Many Macedonians came to Germany in the 1970s and 1980's. Many went to work in the industrial centres of East Germany and the Ruhr. Later still many thousands emigrated to Germany after the Breakup of Yugoslavia. The first of eight Macedonian Orthodox Church communities was established in Hamburg in 1980. The Macedonian Soccer team FK Makedonija 1970 was founded in 1970. There are concentrations of Macedonians in Berlin, Bavaria, Hamburg and the Ruhr. 62,295 Macedonian citizens were living in Germany in 2006, although Macedonian sources claim the true number of Macedonians ranges from 75,000 to 85,000. [http://www.mfa.gov.mk//Upload/ContentManagement/Files/Broj%20na%20makedonski%20iselenici%20vo%20svetot.doc Estimates from the MFA] ]

Italy

Netherlands

Many Macedonians entered the Netherlands during the 1960s and 1970's. Most of these returned to Macedonia while a minority remained. They were joined by Business migrants and students after the breakup of Yugoslavia. It is estimated that over between 10,000 and 15,000 Macedonians can be found in the Netherlands.

Norway

Poland

Most of the Macedonians of Poland originate from the Child Refugees of the Greek Civil War. Estimates put the number of Macedonian refugess settled in Poland at 11,458. Most Macedonians are settled in Southern and Central Poland. Many Macedonians immigrated to Poland after the Breakup of Yugoslavia.

Romania

Russia

During the Years of the Ottoman Empire many Macedonians left Macedonia and went to live in Russia. Many Macedonian societies such as the Macedonian Scientific and Literary Society were established by the Macedonians in Russia, they were referred to as the "Macedonian Colony". The society often printed books and newspapers in the vernacular Macedonian dialects and was based in Saint Petersburg. The most renowned Macedonian journal printed in Russia was "Macedonian Voice" ( _mk. Македонскi Голосъ, _ru. Македонски Глас). The group even designed a Macedonian flag. Many future Macedonian Academic's had studied in Russia. By the 21st an estimated 1000 Macedonians remained in Russia.

weden

Macedonians began to immigrate to Sweden after World War Two. Many of these were originally Aegean Macedonians who were later joined by Macedonians from Yugoslavia, a large proportion of these were Macedonian Muslims. The Macedonian population settled heavily in the south-western region of Sweden. The Swedish Government officially recognizes the Macedonian minority present in Sweden. [ [http://www.immi.se/alfa/m.htm Immi Sweden] ] Macedonians in Sweden are well organized through many associations and they are recognized as an Macedonian minority through law. [Regeringskansliet Justitiedepartamentet , 10333 Stockhol En sammanfattning av regeringens minoritetpolitik] Throughout Sweden there are over 20 registered Macedonian associations. There are several Macedonian Orthodox Churches and Macedonian language newspapers in Sweden. In 2006 there were 3,669 [http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BE0101_2006A01_BR_03_BE0107TAB.pdf] Macedonian born in Sweden. The Swedish immigrant center puts the number of Macedonians at 6,000. [ [http://www.immi.se/alfa/m.htm Invandringens elektroniska encyklopedi ] ] Macedonian sources fut the number of Macedonians in Sweden at over 15,000.

witzerland

Thousand of Macedonians emigrated to Switzerland during the years of the Yugoslav federation. Many were temporary workers. After the breakup of Yugoslavia thousands more came to Switzerland. In 1992 an association of Macedonian clubs and groups was founded, the "Združenie na Makedonskite Društva " (ZMD) has member from every Macedonian society in Switzerland. By 2000 large concentrations had been established in Biel/Bienne, Berne, Geneva and Zurich. By 2005 there were 61,304 Macedonian citizens in Switzerland.

United States

Many Macedonians emigrated to America as "Pečalbari" (seasonal workers) in the late 19th and early 20th century. It is estimated that after the failure of Ilinden Uprising that over 50,000 Macedonians came to America. [ [http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Macedonian-Americans.html Macedonian Americans ] ] The first immigrants were primarily from the Lerin, Kostur and Bitola regions. After World War One many Macedonians returned to Europe only to be joined by Aegean Macedonians who were fleeing persecution under the Metaxas regime. By 1945 an estimated 40,000 - 50,000 Macedonians were in America. Post-war immigration was limited until the Breakup of Yugoslavia. Large Macedonian concentrations can be found in Detroit (20,000), Gary and Chicago. The 1990 census recorded 20,365 Macedonians, by 2006 this number had increased to 42,812. Community spokespersons claim that the number of Macedonians in America is over 200,000. The United Macedonian Diaspora was established by Macedonian Americans. Many Aegean Macedonians are also present in the United States.

United Kingdom

ee also

*United Macedonian Diaspora

Republic Of Ireland

According to the 2006 Census, there are between 51 and 200 Macedonians living in Ireland.

References

External links

* [http://www.umdiaspora.org/ United Macedonian Diaspora Official website]
* [http://www.smk-wmc.org/index.asp World Macedonian Congress]
* [http://www.maticanaiselenici.com/ The House of Macedonian Emigrants]