Ideology and Law in Tension: The Macedonian Socialist Model of Secularism and Its Constitutional Legacy

This article examines the constitutional and ideological foundations of church–state relations in socialist Macedonia (1945–1990), situating them within the broader framework of socialist Yugoslavia. It argues that the Macedonian model of secularism was shaped by a structural tension between Marxist atheism as an official ideological doctrine and formal constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. While constitutional texts affirmed separation and religious liberty, statutory regulation and political practice constrained the public role of religion and marginalized religious communities within the socialist legal order. By analyzing ideological premises, constitutional provisions, and legislative instruments, the article identifies the defining paradox of the Yugoslav and Macedonian socialist approach: the coexistence of normative guarantees and ideological limitation. Finally, it explores the extent to which this model has influenced the post-1991 understanding of secularism in North Macedonia, suggesting that elements of regulatory continuity persist despite the democratic transformation of the constitutional system.