Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 20th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview Public Policy Analysis Development Issues Author(s) Zidas Daskalovski University "St. Kliment Ohridski" Bitola Republic of North Macedonia Hadji - Kosta Milevski Diogen, Title Census taking and inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Zidas Daskalovski Abstract The population Census is a basic statistical tool for gathering data and creating a roadmap for existing needs and future trends. It is an instrument through which a dynamic picture of the past, present and future of a society is compiled. It is a procedure which provides data on the mapping of trends that become apparent through analysis of demographic, economic and infrastructure data. Systematized data collected in the census are the main source of secondary data in all phases of the cycle of creation and public policies analysis. They are the basis for an estimate of the effects and results of public policies and are an indicator of the needs and range of future public policies. Аll this would be also true for Macedonia in case data generated by the census were politically neutral. After the 2001 conflict and the implementation of the OFA the character of Macedonian society has changed, thereby changing the function of the census which besides defining and planning of the social reality becomes an instrument that defines the political reality. The solutions offered and implemented by OFA tie aspects of the political system and political process with the demographic indicators. Consequently the census is one of the key issues in the political battle arena of the ethnic parties. The effects of this competition materialized in recent years after the the census in 2002. The period of 10 years meant plenty of time to assess how future census which was supposed to be conducted in spring 2011 can change the contours of political reality, but lack of political will and compromise over the manner of implementation and practical significance of data collected whit the census brought this action to a standstill. This paper will try to sketch the circumstances that give policy the status of “primary modulator” of the census. It will also try to determine the effects of ethnic policies on census results and the possible consequences they will have on the creation and analysis of public policies in the future. Keywords: population census, policies analysis, Macedonia, Ohrid Agreement (OFA), ethnic policies, effective public policies
