EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO PROTEST: THE INDICATOR OF COUNTRY’S DEMOCRATIC CAPACITY AND THE CASE OF MACEDONIA

Stability of the institutions, safeguarding democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities are necessary political criteria for the states striving to become part of the EU. Democracy and rule of law are the fundamental values of the constitutional order of the Republic of Macedonia. The Constitution guarantees human rights and freedoms, civil liberties and national equality. Relying on the analysis of the practice of exercising the civic and political right to protest as envisaged in the Macedonian majoritarian democratic framework, the author of this paper points to insufficiently developed civil identity in Macedonia and proposes measures which may contribute to its improvement. It is necessary because, apart from meeting the political criteria which are prerequisite in the EU accession process, it is in the interest of the state to encourage greater civil activity in the process of making and adopting decisions that are aimed at advancing the democracy. Key words: democracy, deliberalization, right to protest, identity, citizens