From Ethnic Conflict to Ethnic Peace… and How not to Backslide: Lessons to Learn from Bulgaria’s History of Inter-Ethnic Relations
From Ethnic Conflict to Ethnic Peace… and How not to Backslide: Lessons to Learn from Bulgaria’s History of Inter-Ethnic Relations

Author(s): Fabio Ashtar Telarico
Subject(s): History, Social Sciences, Sociology, Special Historiographies:, Nationalism Studies, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Post-Communist Transformation, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Национално издателство за образование и наука „Аз-буки“
Keywords: Bulgaria; nationalism; ethnic relations; post-socialism
Summary/Abstract: This paper addresses retrospectively a key moment in the history of inter-ethnic relations in Bulgaria: the beginning of the post-socialist period (1990 – 1991) and the emergence of the political party Ataka and its unpredictable demise (2005 – 2007). By adopting a historicist approach to politics that credits past events with helping the interpretation of the present, Bulgarian elites’ successes in containing inter-ethnic tensions may provide guidelines for liberal democracies trying to overcome a recrudescence of similar sentiments. Namely, mainstream parties persuaded potential voters that they can deliver on (some of the) nationalists’ promises better and faster. Eventually, democracy has survived and Bulgarian liberalism has swallowed its adversaries. Perhaps, Western parties could learn from the Bulgarian party system’s two successful attempt at democratically and peacefully containing ethnic tensions despite a fraught history and a contested present.

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