Македонија (1918)

Macedonia by Tihomir R. Đorđević is a polemical work from 1918 that aims to address the "Macedonian question" by arguing against Bulgarian claims to the region. The author states that there was confusion surrounding the definition of Macedonia and its national identity, and he seeks to provide a factual foundation for the debate. Đorđević asserts that many Bulgarian writers deliberately broadened the definition of Macedonia for political gain, and he intends to counteract this by presenting what he considers to be the correct historical and geographical boundaries of the territory. The author explicitly states that he wants to "disarm criticism" from the Bulgarian side and demonstrate their "malpractices and dishonesty" regarding their seizure of Serbian rights.

The book's main argument is that Macedonia is historically and ethnically a Serbian land. Đorđević emphasizes the long history of Serbian rule and cultural influence in the region, citing historical sources that he believes have been carefully selected to be "unquestionably reliable". He maintains that the Serbian people of Macedonia never lost their Serbian consciousness despite centuries of foreign rule. Đorđević also dedicates sections to contrasting Serbian and Bulgarian rule in Macedonia, claiming that the latter was an invasion, while Serbian rule was a liberation. He points out that the Slavic people of Macedonia were referred to as Serbs in historical documents, and the land was often called "Serbian land".

Đorđević's work is presented as a scholarly effort to clarify the ethnic and national identity of the people in Macedonia. The book includes sections on Bulgarian propaganda, Serbian schools and cultural movements in the region, and even lists of Bulgarian attacks on Serbs. The author's goal is to show that Macedonia and its people have a historical and cultural affinity with Serbia, and that any claims to the contrary are based on "erroneous views" and politically motivated falsehoods. The book, therefore, serves as a comprehensive argument for the Serbian claim to Macedonia, using historical, ethnographic, and linguistic evidence.