Mojanoski: Erosion of values and poverty push Macedonian youth toward extremism

University professor from Skopje, Cane Mojanoski, explains that the educational system in North Macedonia, as well as in other countries in the region, is affected by an erosion of values. He tells Kosovo Online that this, together with poverty, contributes to the easier acceptance of extremist ideologies among young people.

"In Macedonia, around 42% of the population falls into the category of social risk due to poverty. About 22% barely meet basic survival needs, while the same proportion lacks resources for heating... When you consider that the educational system, especially higher education, is subject to a particular form of participation and that a population this impoverished struggles to send their children to study in Skopje or other university centers, we can conclude that poverty is one of the factors pushing youth toward extremist behavior, ideology, or practices," Mojanoski notes.

He explains that young people are more easily manipulated because of widespread feelings of discontent and injustice, which are further intensified by various other factors.

Citing an OSCE study on security in North Macedonia, he points out that a large number of respondents feel insecure due to high levels of corruption. Another factor, he says, relates to the natural disasters in the region and Europe witnessed in recent months, which he attributes to systemic inconsistencies.

"All of this results from deficiencies in the educational system, a lack of solid knowledge foundations, and a lack of accountability among qualified individuals. These influences make individuals more susceptible to manipulation and accepting certain radical behaviors," the professor says.

He emphasizes that publicly available analyses show that in the past decade, nearly 900 people from the region have been identified as supporting or belonging to groups of radical extremists. Of these, around 200 were under 18 years old.

"This is one indicator that radical concepts and worldviews are appealing to young people, who are often left to fend for themselves due to poor economic conditions, broken families unable to dedicate themselves to the educational process, and a schooling system that, by and large, is focused on meeting mandatory education requirements without much concern for the quality of knowledge. The entire educational system, including higher education, is deeply affected by an erosion of values due to corruption and corrupt practices," Mojanoski explains.

He adds that this phenomenon is not unique to Macedonia but is also present in Western Balkan countries that have largely failed to tackle corruption and poverty, neglecting the educational system and the values it should foster.

The solution, according to the professor, lies in establishing the rule of law and a functioning legal system. Without this principle, he adds, the sense of disenfranchisement and lack of equal opportunities in society fuels discontent.

"One of the fundamental problems in Macedonian society, and, more broadly, in the Balkans, is that citizens do not trust institutions, they do not trust the system. And without fulfilled individuals, no society can hope for its future, nor can it expect citizens who will be ready to sacrifice and contribute to building a community where they feel free and fulfilled," Mojanoski concludes.