About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

10 E. Eur. Const. Rev. 62 (2001)
The Bulgarian Ethnic Model

handle is hein.journals/eeurcr10 and id is 302 raw text is: The Bulgarian Ethnic Model Antonina Zhelyazkova ulgaria lies at a crossroad of peoples and civi- lizations, where different customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and cultural stereo- types coexist in a turbulent mixture. In that sense, it is no different from the neighboring Balkan states. On the other hand, there is something unusual or special about the modes of ethnic cohabitation that have traditionally dominated Bulgarian political life. In their everyday interactions, the major ethnic and religious groups (Christians, Muslims, and Jews) were able to establish and preserve relations marked by open-mind- edness and mutual respect. At a constitutional level, ethnic and religious diversity has been recognized, although actual political practices at times have resulted in the violation of the rights of minorities. And while Bulgaria's postwar history was punctuated by occasional outbursts of assimilationist sentiment, it would be fair to say that the historically developed modes of acceptance and appreciation of the others, as other, remain embedded in the social fabric and constitute an organic part of the culture of toleration that has evolved in the ethnically mixed regions. Minorities under communist rule Like the rest of Eastern Europe, after the end of the Second World War, Bulgaria found itself in the iron grip of a communist dictatorship. Inevitably, the poli- cies launched during that period had a momentous impact on ethnic relations. In accordance with orthodox Marxism, religion was denounced and reli- gious practices banned. All religious communities were exposed to relentless atheistic propaganda, and the leading members of their churches were harassed and imprisoned. Simultaneously, the ruling party was striving to spread the spirit of communism among ethnic minorities. Children of non-Bulgarian back- ground were subject to communist indoctrination in their parochial schools, and minority-language news- papers were used as venues for disseminating commu- nist ideology. Ethnic Turks, Pomaks (ethnic Bulgarians who had adopted Islam at various times in the past), Roma, Jews, and Armenians were actively recruited into the party nomenklatura; in return, these cadres carried out the policy of the Bulgarian Communist Party directed toward their compatriots. At the beginning of the '50s, the policy of the Communist Party took a dramatic turn toward greater repression and restriction of minority rights. The struggle against expressions of nationalism and reli- gious fanaticism among the local Turks was proclaimed one of the party's top priorities. In addi- tion, in the course of the violent drive toward collectivization of agriculture, many Turks and Pomaks were deprived of their land. As a result, more than 150,000 Muslims emigrated to Turkey in 1950-51. This campaign culminated in the forceful renaming of the Pomaks (in 1972-74) and of ethnic Turks (the winter of 1984-85). The professed goal of communist authorities was to obliterate the cultural- religious specificity of these minorities and erase their ethnic identity. In the pursuit of this goal, a variety of inducements were used, from administrative punish- ments to economic blackmail to sheer violence. In some of the villages and small provincial towns, ethnic Turks responded with organized peaceful resistance. These regions were sealed off by army and police detachments, and the blockade continued until the last villager was assigned a new Bulgarian name. Thousands of Bulgarian Turks were detained and subsequently sent to prisons or camps, often without any charge or after a quick legal procedure held in camera. It should be pointed out that, within the context of the Muslim religion, renaming is a dramatic act of sacrilege because, according to Islam, a person's name is a vital attribute of personhood. Without his proper name, the Muslim cannot introduce himself to EAST EUROPEAN CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most