Senior researcher: dr. sc. Borislav Pavlovski
Project assistants: dr. sc. Ivica Baković, dr. sc. Goran Kalogjera, Virna Karlić, dr. sc. Vlado Pandžić, Ana Vasung

Summary: Research made so far in the field of historic, literary, linguistic and cultural aspects of Croatian-Macedonian relations (S. Antoljak, D. Brozović, A. Guleska-Hajdić, G. Kalogjera, P. Kepeski, Z. Kramarić, V. Pandžić, B. Pavlovski, H. Polenaković, G. Todorovski &c.) provides a base and inspiration for further collection of material, its systematisation, analysis and interpretation, particularly where the 19th and 20th century is concerned, as that was when Croatian culture played a significant role in the shaping of Macedonian cultural history. Special attention will be given to certain Macedonian authors (D. and K. Miladinov, G. Prličev, K. P. Misirkov, K. Racin, A. Šopov, K. Čašule, G. Stefanovski, D. Dukovski &c.) and their reception in Croatian literary reviews, science, as well as school books and university level literature. Croatian literature in Macedonian will be a particular research interest because of the volume of works published and ample recognition they received in Macedonian literary reviews and science on literature; this refers primarily to the works of the greatest Croatian writers (M. Držić, AG Matoš, M. Krleža, I. Brešan, S. Mihalić &c.) The linguistic and stylistic qualities of translations (Croatian and Macedonian) are an integral part of this project, which will also look into other artistic phenomena such as drama, theatre, cinematography, direction, and fine arts. Research will be based primarily on comparative and comparative-contrasting methods in regards to language and style, and will be conducted gradually, from the gathering and systematisation of the material to its analysis and interpretation. In the final stages of work on particular themes, debates and colloquia will be organised in scientific communities. Results will be presented in conferences and symposia, and published in relevant journals, collections of scientific papers and articles, and monographs. We expect to create a database available to a wide spectrum of users, the building of which will scientific novices by assigning them a part in research, analysis, and publication – the process of reassessment of the role of the Croatian cultural identity in the shaping of Macedonian culture from the 19th to the 21st century. The significance of the research proposed lies not only in new findings and the publication thereof, but also in the creation of a wider interdisciplinary research network in Croatian and Macedonian universities and scientific communities.