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SHAPING THE CITY: THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EVOLUTION OF THE MACEDONIAN DIASPORA IN VIENNA
Abstract
This analysis posits that the Macedonian diaspora in Vienna represents a paradigmatic case of community evolution, tracing its transformation from a post-war labor collective into a complex and influential social body. The central argument is that the community’s profound internal heterogeneity spanning ethnic, religious, and regional lines has been a catalyst for developing a robust organizational infrastructure. This infrastructure has proven essential not only for cultural preservation and intergenerational identity negotiation but also as a platform for significant economic agency, most notably through socially embedded entrepreneurship. This report integrates a review of existing literature with a proposed mixed-methods research framework designed to capture the contemporary dynamics of this evolution. The findings suggest that the diaspora is not a passive minority group, but an active agent that contributes to and co-creates the economic vitality and multicultural identity of contemporary Vienna. Its trajectory offers crucial insights into the dynamics of integration, resilience, and social cohesion in modern European urban centers.
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