Institute of Geography

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    The Arts and Politics: The state of Yugoslav society through the lyrics of Azra and Zabranjeno Pušenje
    (Macedonian Geographical Society, 2025)
    Kitevski, Goran
    This paper critically examines the socio-political landscape of Yugoslav society through the lyrical narratives of two influential musical bands: Azra from Zagreb and Zabranjeno Pušenje from Sarajevo. Amidst rising Yugo-nostalgia and the idealization of the former Yugoslav state, the works of these rock bands provide an alternative perspective on the complexities and challenges of Yugoslav society. By conducting a thematic analysis of their lyrics, this research elucidates the cultural and political sentiments of the era, demonstrating how popular art functioned as a medium for incisive social commentary. The study underscores the importance of Azra and Zabranjeno Pušenje in articulating dissent and shaping public discourse, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of Yugoslav identity. This examination reveals the enduring impact of their artistic expressions on contemporary interpretations of the Yugoslav socio-political context.
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    Beyond Political: Tourism (re)shaping the image of the Balkans
    (UTMS Journal of Economics, 2024-12)
    Kitevski, Goran; Mijalova, Katerina
    This paper explores the evolution of the Balkans' historically negative image, rooted in political instability, conflict, and cultural narratives, into one that is increasingly shaped by tourism. Long perceived as a region of division and insecurity, the Balkans are undergoing a transformation fueled by the growing recognition of their cultural, historical, and natural assets. International tourism has been instrumental in altering external perceptions by promoting the region’s distinct attractions and fostering a departure from a collective "Balkan" identity towards the development of unique national tourism brands. These efforts reflect a strategic reimagining of the region, positioning it as an appealing destination within global tourism networks. By analyzing the interplay between historical stigma and contemporary branding strategies, this study highlights tourism's role as a catalyst for reshaping the Balkans' image, contributing to its economic growth and global integration. This shift illustrates how tourism can redefine regional identities and challenge outdated stereotypes, presenting the Balkans as a diverse and welcoming destination.
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    Ohrid between identities: Image, experience and tourist perception
    (UTMS Journal of Economics, 2025-06)
    Kitevski, Goran; Milenkovski, Ace; Gjorgievski, Mijalce
    This paper investigates the relationship between destination image and tourist perception of Ohrid (N. Macedonia). While Ohrid projects an image as a place of natural, cultural and spiritual heritage, affirmed by its UNESCO World Heritage status and significance—tourist perceptions vary significantly across domestic and foreign visitor groups. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, social media analysis and data mining, to see how tourists actually experience the city. Findings reveal a strong appreciation among foreign tourists for Ohrid’s nature and culture, in contrast to domestic tourists who often associate the destination only as a basic tourism weekend and/or seasonal getaway destination. A growing difference is observed between Ohrid’s promoted identity and its actual tourism practices, mainly during the peak summer season characterized by mass tourism, overcrowding, and large-scale commercial events. These contradictions highlight the need for a more coherent and sustainable tourism strategy that bridges the gap between image, perception, and actual experience.
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    North Macedonia in the Western Balkans: Between regional and European integration
    (UTMS Journal of Economics, 2025-12)
    Kitevski, Goran; Mijalova, Katerina
    The main subject of the study is the position of North Macedonia within the European Union (EU) enlargement framework and the geopolitical configuration of the Western Balkans, conceptualised not as a geographic entity but as a political category defined by non-membership. Although designated a candidate state in 2005 and formally approved for accession negotiations in 2020, North Macedonia remains the most protracted accession case in the region. The Western Balkans, initially incorporated into the EU enlargement agenda through the Stabilisation and Association Process, remain institutionally framed as a transitional space expected to converge with the Union. While the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit affirmed the region’s membership perspective, post-Thessaloniki developments were marked by procedural revision, enlargement fatigue, and (geo)political recalibration. Comparative analysis of the Commission’s 2025 reports confirm that North Macedonia is not substantially lagging in acquis alignment relative to Albania and other WB6 countries, but remains constrained by unresolved identity-based conditions
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    The Prespa Agreement: A Political geography
    (Geobalcanica, 2023)
    Kitevski, Goran
    The subject of the research is the Prespa Agreement, which gave North Macedonia a new name, in exchange for support from Greece in North Macedonia’s aspirations towards the European Union and NATO. The paper analyzes the key points from the first part of the agreement, which are the essence of the Macedonian-Greek naming issue: the formulation of the Macedonian nationality, the recognition of the Macedonian language, the differences in understanding and the possibility of using the terms Macedonia and Macedonian for the both sides, as well as the meaning of the agreement in a broader political sense. There are a number of researches on the topic of Macedonian-Greek issue, which are more focused on thе naming problem, from the occurrence to its solution, so the main goal of this paper is to try to give another, political-geographic overview of the identity issues arising after the Prespa Agreement.
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    The French Proposal and North Macedonia’s European perspective: a political geography
    (Geographical Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina & Department of geography, University of Sarajevo, 2025-11)
    Kitevski, Goran
    This paper examines the so-called French Proposal, a diplomatic framework specifically designed to overcome Bulgaria’s veto and facilitate the continuation of North Macedonia’s accession process to the European Union. The proposal’s most contested element is the requirement to amend North Macedonia’s Constitution to explicitly include Bulgarians as a constituent people —an obligation that serves as a gateway for opening a broader negotiation process. This requirement is embedded within a broader framework that incorporates the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness, and Cooperation, thereby elevating a long standing bilateral dispute to the level of a formal EU accession criterion. By integrating identity-related and historical disputes into the negotiation process, the proposal effectively Europeanizes a bilateral issue. This study argues that the constitutional amendment represents only one aspect of a deeper and enduring challenge: the identity-based dispute with Bulgaria, now institutionalized within the EU framework, will remain a decisive factor influencing both the pace and prospects of North Macedonia’s European integration.
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    Investigating relationships between PM10 and Climatic parameters using PCA in the three largest urban areas in North Macedonia
    (2025-06-26)
    Manevska, Emilija
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    Kuzmanoski, Arse
    This study applies Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to evaluate how meteorological factors influence PM10 pollution in Skopje, Kumanovo and Bitola from 2012 to 2020. PCA reduces data complexity while identifying key weather variables that impact air pollution levels. Findings indicate that temperature and wind speed have the strongest negative correlation with PM10 concentrations, meaning lower temperatures and weaker winds are linked to higher pollution levels. These conditions limit pollutant dispersion, leading to worse air quality. Humidity and precipitation have mixed effects—humidity can promote both the removal and formation of pollutants, while precipitation aids in PM10 reduction through wet season, depending on intensity and duration. The extracted principal components explain a significant portion of pollution variability, highlighting the dominant meteorological influences on air quality trends. By clarifying these relationships, PCA enhances the understanding of air pollution dynamics in the three largest urban areas in North Macedonia. This analysis provides valuable insights for air quality management in North Macedonia. By identifying the key meteorological drivers of pollution, policymakers can develop more targeted and effective strategies to mitigate PM10 levels and improve public health.
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    GIS In the hydromorphology analysis of selected meanders of the Crna reka
    (University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, 2024-12)
    Kuzmanoski, Arse
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    Manevska, Emilija
    <jats:p>Hydromorphological changes in river systems, particularly in the context of meanders, are crucial for understanding the dynamics of fluvial environments. Meandering is a natural process in lowland areas where rivers form curved, sinusoidal flows driven by the complex interaction of hydraulic forces, sediment transport and bank erosion. These changes alter the physical morphology of rivers, influencing water quality and flood risks. The meandering process of the Crna Reka can be accessed through the processing and analysis of topographic maps and satellite imagery from the Landsat mission (1983–2013) and Sentinel-2 mission (2018–2023). Parameters analyzed include river channel width, the central flow line within a given sector, the sinuosity of the river channel, the radius of curvature of river bends, the length of meandering belts, the width of meandering channels, and riverbed migrations. Between 1964 and 2023, an increase in the sinuosity coefficient, a rise in the number of bends from 10 to 23, changes in the radius of curvature from 271 m to 577 m, and alterations in the length and width of meandering were observed. Significant lateral erosion on the right bank and dominant sedimentation on the left bank were also evident. Understanding these processes is crucial for predicting future river flow changes and mitigating potential environmental impacts.</jats:p>
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    Assessing risk-prone areas in the Kratovska Reka catchment (North Macedonia) by integrating advanced geospatial analytics and flash flood potential index
    (Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024-05-01)
    Aleksova, Bojana
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    Marković, Slobodan B.
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    Cvetković, Vladimir M.
    This study presents a comprehensive analysis of flash flood susceptibility in the Kratovska Reka catchment area of Northeastern North Macedonia, integrating Geographic Information System, remote sensing, and field survey data. Key factors influencing flash flood dynamics, including Slope, Lithology, Land use, and Vegetation index, were investigated to develop the Flash Flood Potential Index (FFPI). Mapping slope variation using a 5-m Digital Elevation Model (DEM) revealed higher slopes in eastern tributaries compared to western counterparts. Lithological units were classified based on susceptibility to erosion processes, with clastic sediments identified as most prone to flash floods. Land use analysis highlighted non-irrigated agricultural surfaces and areas with sparse vegetation as highly susceptible. Integration of these factors into the FFPI model provided insights into flash flood susceptibility, with results indicating a medium risk across the catchment. The average value of the FFPI is 1.9, considering that the values range from 1 to 5. Also, terrains susceptible to flash floods were found to be 49.34%, classified as medium risk. Field survey data validated the model, revealing a significant overlap between hotspot areas for flash floods and high-risk regions identified by the FFPI. An average FFPI coefficient was calculated for each tributary (sub-catchment) of the Kratovska Reka. According to the model, Latišnica had the highest average coefficient of susceptibility to potential flash floods, with a value of 2.16. These findings offer valuable insights for spatial planning and flood risk management, with implications for both local and national-scale applications. Future research directions include incorporating machine learning techniques to enhance modeling accuracy and reduce subjectivity in assigning weighting factors.</jats:p>
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    Multi-hazard modeling of erosion and landslide susceptibility at the national scale in the example of North Macedonia
    (Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024-11-01)
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    Aleksova, Bojana
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    Lukić, Tin
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    Dragićević, Slavoljub
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    Valjarević, Aleksandar
    Due to favorable natural conditions and human impact, the territory of North Macedonia is very susceptible to natural hazards. Steep hillslopes combined with soft rocks (schists on the mountains; sands and sandstones in depressions), erodible soils, semiarid continental climate, and sparse vegetation cover give a high potential for soil erosion and landslides. For this reason, this study presents a multi-hazard approach to geohazard modeling on the national extent in the example of North Macedonia. Utilizing Geographic Information Systems, relevant data about the entire research area were employed to analyze and assess soil erosion and susceptibility to landslides and identify areas prone to both hazards. Using the Gavrilović Erosion Potential Method (EPM), an average value of 0.36 was obtained for the erosion coefficient <jats:italic>Z</jats:italic>, indicating low to moderate susceptibility to erosion. However, a significant area of the country (9.6%) is susceptible to high and excess erosion rates. For the landslide susceptibility assessment (LSA), the Analytical hierarchy process approach is combined with the statistical method (frequency ratio), showing that 29.3% of the territory belongs to the zone of high and very high landslide susceptibility. Then, the accuracy assessment is performed for both procedures (EPM and LSA), showing acceptable reliability. By overlapping both models, a multi-hazard map is prepared, indicating that 22.3% of North Macedonia territory is highly susceptible to erosion and landslides. The primary objective of multi-hazard modeling is to identify and delineate hazardous areas, thereby aiding in activities to reduce the hazards and mitigate future damage. This becomes particularly significant when considering the impact of climate change, which is associated with increased landslide and erosion susceptibility. The approach based on a national level presented in this work can provide valuable information for regional planning and decision-making processes.