Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T05:42:16.440Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Nationalism versus multiculturalism: the minority issue in twenty-first-century Bulgaria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Eleonora Naxidou
Eleonora Naxidou*
Affiliation:
School of History and Ethnology, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
*
*Email: enaxidou@otenet.gr, enaxidou@he.duth.gr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The paper negotiates ideas, views and beliefs of Bulgarians towards the ethnic minorities of their country published in the Bulgarian press during the period of 2005–2009. Through these aspects it becomes clear that three years after Bulgaria's accession to the European Union and despite various state attempts to integrate minorities – mostly initiated and funded by the EU and various governmental and non-governmental organizations – prejudice and racism have not been overcome, the Other is still differentiated and the way to multiculturalism is very long. The research field is limited to the Turkish and the Roma minorities, which are “visible” in the sense that they are officially recognized.

Keywords

Bulgariaethnic minoritiesRomaTurksnationalismmulticulturalism
Type
Articles
Information
Nationalities Papers , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 85 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 Association for the Study of Nationalities 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

“139 Roms sur le point d'ětre expulsés vers la Roumanie et la Bulgarie.” Le Monde 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 23 May 2011. <http://www.lemonde.fr>..>Google Scholar
Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso, 1991. Print.Google Scholar
Barany, Zoltan. The East European Gypsies: Regime, Change, Marginality, and Ethnopolitics. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2002. Print.Google Scholar
Bell, John D. “The ‘Revival Process’: The Turkish and Pomak Minorities in Bulgarian Politics.” Ethnicity and Nationalism in East Central Europe and the Balkans. Eds. Sfikas, Thanasis D. and Williams, Christopher. N.p.: Ashgate, 1999. 237–68. Print.Google Scholar
Bideleux, Robert, and Jeffries, Ian. The Balkans: A Post-Communist History. Abingdon: Routledge, 2007. Print.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria 2008 Review: Domestic Politics.” Novinite 2 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2009. http://www.novinite.com/.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria Mayor Bans Construction of Turkish Warrior Monument.” Novinite 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria MP Yanev: Numerous Southern Villages Are Converted to Islam by Force.” Novinite 3 Mar.2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria Nationalist ‘Ataka’ Party Leader Siderov: I Can't Be Follower of Hitler.” Interview with Ivan Dikov. Novinite 26 June 2009. Web. 25 Sept. 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria Nationalist Leader Sentenced for Harassment of Ethnic Turks.” Novinite 8 Apr. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria Nationalists Move against Turkish-Language News on National TV”. Novinite 26 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgarian Nationalists against Illegal Ethnic Party Leader”. Novinite 19 Oct. 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgarians Prefer Roma to Some Emigrants – Poll”. Novinite 21 July 2009. Web. 6 Sept. 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria President Asks Borisov to Apologize for Statements on Revival Process.” Novinite 31 Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgarian Station Campaigns against Turkish Broadcast.” Novinite 29 Aug. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgarian Television Director Defends Turkish Language News.” Novinite 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria PM: Sofia Mayor Choked by Own Hate.” Novinite 6 Febr. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria PM Sucked into Scandal over Alleged Radical Islam.” Novinite 19 Mar. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria State Security Tipped Off about Fundamentalist Islam Threats.” Novinite 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Bulgaria Trust in GERB Party Down 5%.” Novinite 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
Centralna Izbiratelna Komisija. Parlamentarni Izbori 2009. Web. 20 July 2009. <http://rezultati.cik2009.bg>..>Google Scholar
Commissioner for Human Rights. “Report by Thomas Hammamberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, following his visit to Bulgaria from 3 to 5 November 2009.” Web. 6 May 2010. <https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1581941>..>Google Scholar
“Controversy over the Turkish Language News on Bulgarian National TV.” The Bulgaria 2009 Review: Domestic Politics. Novinite 30 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
Crampton, R.J. Bulgaria. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. Print.Google Scholar
Dikov, Ivan. “To Chicago and Back”. Novinite 6 Febr. 2009. Web. 20 Febr. 2009.Google Scholar
Doneva, Denica. The Puzzle: The Bulgarian-Turkish Ethnic Relations in Post-Communist Bulgaria. Saarbrucken: Dr. Muller, 2009. Print.Google Scholar
Drews, Juliane. The Educational Situation of Roma in Bulgaria: Comprehensive Approach towards a European Minority. Saarbrucken: Dr. Muller, 2008. Print.Google Scholar
Elchinova, Magdalena. “Alien by Default: The Identity of the Turks of Bulgaria at Home and in Immigration.” Developing Cultural Identity in the Balkans: Convergence vs. Divergence. Eds. Detrez, Raymond and Plas, Pieter. Brussels: Peter Lang, 2005. 87–109. Print.Google Scholar
Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives. London: Pluto, 1993. Print.Google Scholar
“Ethnic Turkish Party Vows to Reveal to EU Sofia Mayor's Real Face.” Novinite 31. Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
Franses, Samuel. “Kak da slozhim kraj na getata.” Duma 29 July 2008. Web. 13 Feb. 2009. <http://www.duma.bg>..>Google Scholar
Gellner, Ernest. Nations and Nationalism. N.p.: Blackwell, 1994. Print.Google Scholar
Guineva, Maria. “For Separation of Church and State.” Novinite 19 Mar. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
Hechter, Michael. Containing Nationalism. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.Google Scholar
Hobsbawm, Eric J. Nations and Nationalism since 1780. N.p.: Cambridge UP, 1997. Print.Google Scholar
Hristova, Milena. “The Turks are coming.” Novinite 24 Nov. 2007. Web. 13 Febr. 2009.Google Scholar
“Illegal Ethnic Turk Party Leader Enters Bulgarian Court.” Novinite 6 Dec. 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
Jones, Sian. The Archaeology of Ethnicity: Constructing Identities in the Past and Present. London: Routledge, 1997. Print.Google Scholar
Kanev, Krassimir. “Changing Attitudes towards Ethnic Minorities in Bulgaria and the Balkans, 1992–97.” Ethnicity and Nationalism in East Central Europe and the Balkans. Eds. Sfikas, Thanasis D. and Williams, Christopher. N.p.: Ashgate, 1999. 197–235. Print.Google Scholar
Kitromilides, Paschalis M. “'Imagined Communities’ and the Origins of the National Question in the Balkans.” Enlightement, Nationalism, Orthodoxy. N.p.: Ashgate Variorum, 1994. 149–92. Print.Google Scholar
Kymlicka, Will. “Justice and Security in the Accommodation of Minority Nationalism.” Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Minority Rights. Eds. May, Stephen, Mohood, Tariq, and Squires, Judith. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2004. 144–75. Print.Google Scholar
Kymlicka, Will. Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995. Print.Google Scholar
Marushiakova, Ellena, and Popov, Vesselin. “The Bulgarian Gypsies: Searching their Place in the Society.” Balkanologie 4.2 (2000): 1–16. Web. 2 Dec. 2009 <http://balkanologie.revues.org/index323.html>..>Google Scholar
Meijknecht, Anna K. Minority Protection: Standards and Reality. Implementation of Council of Europe Standards in Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. The Hague: Asser, 2004. Print.Google Scholar
“Ministar na Romite? Chte si imame geto i vav vlastta.” 24 Chasa 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 18 May 2011. <http://www.24chasa.bg>..>Google Scholar
“Minority Leaders Protest in Bulgaria's Plovdiv over Banned Roma Weddings.” Novinite 8 July 2008. Web. 15 March 2009.Google Scholar
“Muslims in Bulgaria Burgas Complain to EU over Refusal to Build Mosque.” Novinite 21 March 2009. Web. 18 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Nationalists in Bulgaria Enraged by Roma Theatre Idea.” Novinite 1 Nov. 2006. Web. 21 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Nationalist Sofia Nominee Vows to Ban Muslim Prayer Calls.” Novinite 10 Oct. 2007. Web. 21 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
Neuburger, Mary. The Orient Within: Muslim Minorities and the Negotiation of Nationhood in Modern Bulgaria. N.p: Cornell UP, 2004. Print.Google Scholar
Nikolova, Silvia. “Krachka ili lakat- nomerat e arshina.” Duma 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 13 Feb. 2009.Google Scholar
“Notorious Brothers Rebuild ‘Turkish Soldier’ Monument in Bulgaria.” Novinite 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 June 2009.Google Scholar
Panikjan, Aida. “Obrazovanite ne iskat da se svatosvat s romi.” Duma 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 30 Feb. 2010.Google Scholar
Petrova, Lora. “Two Sides of Every Story.” Novinite 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 15 March 2009.Google Scholar
Panikjan, Aida. “Unthinkable Racism.” Novinite 23 May 2007. Web. 13 Feb. 2009.Google Scholar
“Prosecutors Question Illegal Ethnic Turk Party Leader.” Novinite 15 Sept. 2005. Web. 18 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Protestna Deklaracija na VMRO.” Duma Aug. 14 2007. Web. 26 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
Rechel, Bernd. The Long Way Back to Europe: Minority Protection in Bulgaria. Stuttgart: Ibidem, 2008. Print.Google Scholar
“Roma, Disabled Children Suffer Most Prejudice in Bulgarian Schools – Poll.” Novinite 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 30 Feb. 2010.Google Scholar
Sfikas, Thanasis D. “National Movements and Nation Building in the Balkans, 1804–1922: Historic Origins, Contemporary Misunderstandings.” Ethnicity and Nationalism in East Central Europe and the Balkans. Eds. Sfikas, Thanasis D. and Williams, Christopher. N.p.: Ashgate, 1999. 13–44. Print.Google Scholar
Shkodrova, Albena. “Nationalism Retains Grip on Bulgaria's Youth.” Novinite 18 May 2005. Web. 13 Feb. 2009.Google Scholar
Sigona, Nando. “The ‘Problema Nomadi’ vis-à-vis the Political Participation of Roma and Sinti at the Local level in Italy.” Romani Politics in Contemporary Europe: Poverty, Ethnic Mobilization and the Neoliberal Order. Eds. Sigona, Nando and Trehan, Nidhi. N.p.: Palgrave Macmillan 2009. 273–92. Print.Google Scholar
Sigona, Nando, and Trehan, Nidhi. “Introduction: Romani Politics in Neoliberal Europe.” Romani Politics in Contemporary Europe: Poverty, Ethnic Mobilization and the Neoliberal Order. Eds. Sigona, Nando and Trehan, Nidhi. N.p.: Palgrave Macmillan 2009. 1–20. Print.Google Scholar
Smith, Anthony D. The Ethnic Origins of Nations. N.p.: Blackwell, 1986. Print.Google Scholar
“Sofia Mayor: Communist ‘Revival Process’ against Muslims Had Right Goals.” Novinite 31 Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar
“Sofia Mayor Sends EC Tape with ‘Bad Human Material’ Statement.” Novinite 11 Febr. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
“Sofia Mayor to Bulgarian Expats: We Are Left with Bad Human Material Back Home.” Novinite 5 Feb. 2009. Web. 5 June 2009.Google Scholar
Spencer, Philip, and Wollman, Howard. “Nationalism, Politics and Democracy in the Development of Post-Communist Societies.” Ethnicity and Nationalism in East Central Europe and the Balkans. Eds. Sfikas, Thanasis D. and Williams, Christopher. N.p.: Ashgate, 1999. 73–21. Print.Google Scholar
Sygkelos, Yannis. Nationalism from the Left: The Bulgarian Communist Party during the Second World War and the Early Post-War Years. Leiden: Brill, 2011. Print.Google Scholar
“US State Department: Bulgaria International Religious Freedom Report 2008.” Novinite 23 Sept. 2008. Web. 15 Mar. 2009.Google Scholar