Publications

For many, environmentalism and green are a way of thinking, a lifestyle associated with the protection of nature. Green ideology implies a concern for the environment for two reasons. Concern over the connection between the fate of the environment and the fate of people. In that sense, concern for the environment is actually a concern for people, but not in the form of material survival, it is an issue that was closed in the most developed countries after the Second World War, but in the form of survival of the environment and people as part of it. At that level, people view the environment instrumentally and show concern about the possible disappearance of forests, not because of the forests themselves but because of the value they have for people. Thinking about the fate of people, their connection with the fate of the environment, inevitably led to feeling sorry for the environment regardless of its relationship with people.

Jürgen Habermas is one of the most influential social theorists after World War II. His work is known for its depth, ambition, and effort to explain how society functions and reproduces itself. Unlike postmodernist thinkers, Habermas continues to focus on modernization, enlightenment, and political emancipation. Throughout his long career, he has shifted his focus many times but has always aimed to build a broad theory of society.

Habermas’s writings combine German, French, and American traditions in sociology and philosophy. His influence extends across many fields, including philosophy of language, psychology, systems theory, Marxism, ethics, law, communication, and politics. He is known for concepts such as constitutional patriotism, inclusion of the other, and reconciliation through reason. His ideas are studied in sociology, philosophy, political science, and legal theory.

Several factors explain Habermas’s wide influence. First, he is an interdisciplinary thinker who bridges philosophy, sociology, linguistics, and law. Second, he has written for over six decades, producing a rich intellectual legacy. Third, he is also a public intellectual, actively participating in debates on social and political issues with thinkers like Derrida, Foucault, Rorty, and Rawls.

Habermas prefers to deal with general, universal questions rather than specific, narrow topics. His goal is to create a comprehensive and practical social theory. He synthesizes ideas from critical theory, sociology, and philosophy, which makes his work complex but intellectually powerful.

His main theoretical contribution is the two-level model of society—the system and the lifeworld—used to analyze how modern societies function. He addresses issues such as language, communication, morality, ethics, politics, and law. Habermas defends the ideals of reason and Enlightenment at a time when they are often criticized by postmodernism and scientism.

Although he faces criticism from postmodernists, scientism, Marxists, and earlier critical theorists, Habermas remains one of the most respected thinkers of his time. His writing style can be dense and complex, but this is partly because of his effort to connect different schools of thought and offer deep, original insights.

Any politician can show some level of populism. As Laclau argues, populism is part of politics itself because every politician wants to appeal to as many people as possible, understand their problems, and offer solutions. However, while all politicians may use elements of populism, not all are true populists. Real populists deeply believe in their ideas, while others use populist rhetoric only to gain votes. The main difference is that populists reject pluralism — they believe only they represent “the people” and see others as illegitimate.

Populism is not a new concept. It has appeared many times in history as a reaction against change and is often characterized by anti-elitism, anti-establishment attitudes, and mistrust of intellectuals. Populist movements usually follow strong, charismatic leaders, and when they reach power, they often move toward authoritarianism. The outcome depends on how strong a country’s democratic institutions are. Populism also adapts to different contexts — it can appear as nationalist, agrarian, or even left- or right-wing — but always presents itself as a fight against corrupt elites.

Historically, populism appeared in various forms: in 19th-century America with the Populist Party, in Russia with the Narodniki, in Europe through fascism, and in Latin America with leaders like Perón in Argentina. Modern populism began to grow in the 1960s and became firmly established in the 1990s. Today, populism is widespread in both developed and developing countries. In Europe, populist parties have gone from small movements to major political players, now receiving around 25% of the vote on average. Leaders like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán, and Jair Bolsonaro are examples of modern populists.

Populism today challenges established liberal norms, political correctness, and globalization. It has transformed from a fringe movement into a serious political alternative. The rise of populism is changing democratic politics, forcing traditional parties to adopt more populist elements in their programs. This shows how populism has become central to modern political competition.

The meaning of populism varies depending on context. In Latin America, it is linked with economic populism and clientelism; in Europe, with nationalism and anti-immigration; and in the U.S., with both left- and right-wing protest movements. As a result, populism has become one of the most debated and misunderstood terms in politics. It is both a strategy — used to attract voters — and an ideology — a worldview built around the idea of “the people” versus “the elite.”

While leaders like Clinton or George W. Bush may use populist language, they are not ideological populists like Trump, Le Pen, or Chávez. Populism also affects mainstream politicians who must adapt to its growing influence. Studies show that as populism rises, traditional parties shift toward more extreme positions to compete. In today’s world, the main political divide is no longer between left and right but between populism and anti-populism — making it one of the defining features of modern democracy.

The self is a central concept in social psychology, linked to nearly all aspects of human life, yet difficult to define. It has been discussed since ancient Greece by philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, through thinkers such as Descartes, Locke, and Foucault.

The self includes both personal and social aspects — how people see themselves and how they relate to others and society. Early theorists like James, Mead, and Cooley shaped its understanding: James and Mead distinguished between the “I” (the active self) and the “me” (the self as object), while Cooley introduced the “looking-glass self”, where people form self-images based on how others perceive them.

After World War II, research on the self-grew rapidly, showing its increasing importance in psychology and sociology. Modern definitions describe the self as an organized system of thoughts, feelings, and identities shaped by personal experiences and social interaction. The self develops over time through contact with others and includes both how we act  and how we see ourselves 

This book presents a detailed and scholarly analysis of the relationship between ethnic nationalism and democratic development in the Republic of North Macedonia. It explores how national identity and ethnic divisions have shaped the country’s political evolution, especially in the context of post-communist transition and European integration. The author uses a multidisciplinary approach, combining insights from political science, history, and international relations to offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing democracy in multiethnic societies. The book places North Macedonia within broader academic debates on ethnic conflict, democratization, and regional geopolitics. It contributes significantly to Balkan studies and comparative politics by examining how internal and external factors influence democratic processes in a deeply divided society. The structure of the book is clear and logical, consisting of six main chapters. Each chapter builds on the previous one to develop a strong argument about the role of ethnic nationalism in shaping democratic outcomes

“Connecting the two cultures through visual art” is a group exhibition of sculptures, paintings, graphic designs via posters produced in the last two years. The exhibition comprises works created by some of the most prominent and innovative artists in the area of the Balkan Peninsula, in this case, we are talking about sculptor prof. Slobodan Miloseski and graphic designer prof. Laze Tripkov. According to all the assessments of art criticism, both are followers of the Minimalist and Arte Povera movements in the context of the Bauhaus school and design in North Macedonia. We are obviously talking about artists who are not satisfied with the simple artistic and aesthetic creation of works of art but primarily view themselves as researchers of the infinity of artistic creation

This book explores integrated approaches to academic reading, emphasizing how combining reading with writing, speaking, and critical thinking improves student engagement and comprehension. Based on PhD research conducted in a state university’s English department with first- and third-year students, it addresses the challenges of reading as an isolated skill. Through case studies, tasks, and recommendations, the book demonstrates how integrated skills teaching can make academic reading more effective, natural, and less burdensome, fostering deeper language acquisition and student success.

The book “Historiography Between the Lines: The Ottoman Image in Macedonian History Books” by Prof. Shener Billali examines how Macedonian history textbooks depict the Ottoman Empire’s legacy, highlighting its role in shaping national identity and cultural memory. This book addresses challenges in presenting balanced narratives and explores how historical portrayals affect intercultural understanding and historical reconciliation.