Vevchani: Sovereignty Claim, Benefits and Consequences

ABSTRACT There has been a lively debate in the international relations literature on issues of sovereignty. Among the areas of increasing discussion are the processes of claiming sovereignty. Although attempts to claim sovereignty have been contested, there remains a tendency to create new spaces with sovereign characteristics. This has become important, as the attainment of sovereignty has been perceived as a means of strengthening the chances for political, economic and social development of certain sovereignty seeking spaces. The areas seeking sovereignty, despite their small size and lack of visibility, have established institutions that have sought to protect characteristics of particular importance to that particular space. The municipality of Vevchani, located in the southwestern region of North Macedonia, stands out as an ideal case to observe these developments. This article attempts to analyse how Vevchani has practiced the ‘imagination’, ‘performance’ and ‘spatialization’ of sovereignty and how the legacy of this quasi‐secession attempt has affected the current situation in Vevchani and the overall perception of sovereignty in North Macedonia and the wider region. As a result, this paper finds that as trust in central government authorities declines, sovereignty is claimed by subunits as a function of survival, autonomy and identity.