Between labeling and neglect The role of youth organizations in fostering intercultural understanding and tolerance among young people in Macedonia

Abstract

This article examines the role of youth non-governmental organizations [NGOs] in fostering intercultural understanding and tolerance among young people in Macedonia. To this day ethnic tensions remain between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians. Previous studies have shown that the organization of extra-curricular intercultural activities generally is left to the non-governmental organizations in Macedonia. Grounded in the belief that intergroup contact can reduce prejudice, this study therefore focuses on the realization of interethnic contact by youth non-governmental organizations. Taken together researchers Allport and Pettigrew formulated five conditions that must be met for intergroup contact to result in greater intercultural understanding and tolerance. These conditions guide the examination of the practice of youth organizations. Within this qualitative analyses perceptions and experiences of both youth organizations and young people are taken into account. The findings show that youth NGOs range from not realizing interethnic activities at all, to working on interethnic relations in an explicit, direct manner. This study suggests that youth organizations in some cases may be overemphasizing diversity, and attempts to make practical suggestions that could improve current practice.