Topoi of historical memory in Bulgaria. Field researchThe article summarizes the preliminary results from the research project “Topoi of Memory”, which is a joint venture between the New Bulgarian University and the American University in Bulgaria.The major goal of the research team is to investigate the level of modernization of Bulgarian society using the mechanism of historical memory. Thus we are trying to answer the question: whether there exists one coherent and normative Grand Historical Narrative, inspired by “the inventors of tradition” – and how does it function. Or, whether there are diverse narratives which circulate among the various social, ethnic and religious groups, according to their own value systems.Another aim of the research is to establish the generators of memory, which are at odds between the institutional education and the traditions of the different groups.The results are quite clear: the Grand Bulgarian Historical Narrative is centered on the last decade of the Ottoman Rule in Bulgaria (the 1870’s) which presents the climax of the national liberation movement and the Liberation from the “Turkish Joke”. Still, the “joke” is marked primarily by the heroic discourse. This is in sharp distinction with Serbia, where the traumatic discourse is dominant. The heroic discourse allows much more wider deployment of the narratives of epic heroism, than the traumatic national memory of martyrdom.The leading topoi of memory among the majority of Bulgarians and the diverse minorities groups are relatively similar, still they differ on the level of repetition of these topoi. Even the representatives of the Turkish minority consider the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule the most important historical event. This fact does not mean that these Bulgarian Turks highlight a distinct “martyrdom memory”, or feature a high level of integration in Bulgarian society. It rather presents (in the majority of the cases) a special mimicry of the minority group versus the majority. „Niewola turecka” jako miejsce pamięci. Wyniki badań terenowych Tekst zawiera raport z badań przeprowadzonych w ramach projektu „Toposy pamięci historycznej” realizowanego przez Nowy Uniwersytet Bułgarski i Uniwersytet Amerykański w Bułgarii. Głównym celem była ocena poziomu modernizacji społeczeństwa bułgarskiego, który byłby do uchwycenia z perspektywy mechanizmów pamięci. Czy można mówić o istnieniu jednej wielkiej narracji narodowej, inspirowanej przez „wynalazców tradycji”, czy też o cyrkulacji wielu opowieści – zależnie od systemów wartości poszczególnych grup społecznych, etnicznych, religijnych? Innym celem badania było wyznaczenie czynników tworzących pamięć (generatorów), jak powszechne wykształcenie czy tradycje rodowe.Wyniki badań jednoznacznie pokazują, że wielka bułgarska narracja narodowa – jeśli w ogóle istnieje – osadzona jest w ostatniej dekadzie panowania osmańskiego: okresie walk narodowowyzwoleńczych i wyzwolenia spod „jarzma tureckiego”. „Jarzmo” jednak nie tyle definiowane jest w kategoriach traumy (jak chociażby w Serbii), ile heroizmu. Okazuje się w większym stopniu impulsem do wielkiego zrywu niż martyrologią.W przypadku Bułgarów i poszczególnych mniejszości narodowych wiodące toposy są podobne, mimo iż pojawiają się z różną częstotliwością. Nawet mniejszość turecka uznaje wyzwolenie Bułgarii spod panowania osmańskiego za najważniejsze wydarzenie, w czym nie należy upatrywać martyrologii czy wysokiego stopnia integracji; w większości przypadków pozwala to dojrzeć w tym zjawisku tendencję do stosowania strategii mimikry.
The investigated fish pass is a part of а low-head hydrostatic pressure machine (HPM) located on an existing weir in the upper Iskar River. Monitoring of the hydraulic features of the fish pass was performed under different hydraulic conditions. Diversity and abundance of the local fish fauna was investigated with the aim to verify target fish species. A major limiting factor for using of the fish pass during flood periods was high water velocity (both inside the fish pass and at the fish pass downstream entrance), while during the low water discharge periods it was the insufficient water depth in some pools and the significant differences between the water levels in adjacent pools. The difference between the water levels at the entrance and exit of the fish pass reduces the chances for access of small-sized fish species. Some measures for improving fish pass functionality were developed. Several re-construction solutions were proposed in an attempt to help solving the identified problems.
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Przedstawiono wyniki badań i podstawy zintegrowanego zarządzania zasobami wodnymi na obszarach krasowych na przykładzie Wyżyny Dobrudży (w granicach Bułgarii), spełniające wymogi racjonalnej polityki wodnej z punktu widzenia nowego prawa wodnego, wprowadzonego w Bułgarii w 1999 r.
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The article presents the results of research and rudiments of the integrated water resources management in karstic areas on the example of the Dobrudja Upland (within the borders of Bulgaria), ful-filling the requirements of the rational water policy imposed by the new water law act, adopted in Bulgaria in 1999.
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The article shows the attitude of the Great Britain towards controversies connected with the so‑called Macedonian issue during the inter‑war period, using British archival and published sources. From the point of view of Great Britain the Macedonian issue should be eliminated from the international politics of those times. Its instrumentalization through individual revisionist countries of the region and powers could lead to destruction of the interwar political order in the region. The Macedonian case was treated by British diplomats as a result of political manipulation and unfulfilled aspirations of circles, dissatisfied with the political status quo of those days. The demands to recognize the Macedonian population as an ethnic minority were ignored by the British diplomacy, treating them as an expression of revisionism. The British hope was in the long‑term assimilation of the population within Yugoslavia and Greece. British diplomacy insisted that Bulgarian authorities restrict the influence of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) on relations with Yugoslavia. On the other hand, Yugoslavia should give up supporting Bulgarian emigrants who found refuge there after the coup in September 1923. Moreover, British diplomacy cared about no influence, in any form of the controversy related to the Macedonian issue, on the League of Nations.
Several years lasting research of economic migration between Bulgaria and Greece brought a personal transformation in the author’s life, which turned her into a Bulgaria based work migrant. This essay question the possible effects of economic migration of a fieldworker and their methodological consequences. Author also targets the outstandingly frequent involvement of anthropology graduates within the work migration cycles, interestingly these flows aim not only towards “the West” but also “the East”. The stereotype of unqualified economic migrant moving from “East” to “West” flooding the target country with people of their own needs to be reconsidered. Economic migration embrace people with different educational level, and field backgrounds, furthermore some fields like social-cultural anthropology are even more involved. It can challenge anthropology graduates to get the best from this situation, if not for the scientific progress, then at least to self-explain their career choice.
This paper discusses the use of the names of heresies: bogomilism, messalianism and the heresy of autoproscoptae in 14th century Bulgarian sources. The author underlines that the names of bogomilism and messalianism do not always refer to dualism. Two wider unknown examples of such use of the name “messalinism” are recalled. In the Pseudo-Zonaras Nomocanon (CIAI 1160), the name “messalianism” is treated as being equal to the “heresy of autoproscoptae”. In the Rule for hermits, messalians are presented not as heretics, but as monks disregarding their rules.
Religious terminology in Russian dialect of Old Believers in Poland and Bulgaria (records from the years 1969–1973)Records of religious terminology in Bulgaria were conducted by the author, records in Poland were done by people from the community of Old Believers as well. The material was collected in three centres of Old Believers in Poland – in Augustów, Suwałki and Mrągowo counties (the Masurian district). The basis for gathering the material was a special questionnaire formulated by the author which contained peculiarities of religion and culture of Old Believers. The questionnaire consists of 220 questions concerning the following topics: sacred buildings, belfry, monastery, cemetary, icons, religious books, Old Believer rosary, thurible, candles, a so called podrucznik (i.e. a small cushion used for kneeling and putting hands during bowing), christening, marriage, funeral, ritual food, lent, holidays, names of confessions, clergy, ritual clothes and other names (clergymen and other). The sound of names provided by informants was preserved. The records were done using simplified phonetic transcription. A small dictionary attached to the questionnaire explains less known terms and phrases. Религиозная терминология в старообрядческих островных говорах в Польше и в Болгарии (записи 1969–1973 годов)Записи были проведены автором в старообрядческих деревнях в августовском и мронговском районе (Мазурия) в Польше и в варненском и силистерском районе в Болгарии. Материал собирался по особому вопроснику, разработанному с учетом характерных черт старообрядческой религиозной культуры. Учтены следующие темы: церковные постройки, колокольня, монастырь, кладбище, иконы, кресты, книги, лестовка, кадильница, свечи, подручник, крещение, венчание, похороны, обрядовые блюда, посты, праздники, названия вероисповеданий, духовенство, обрядовая одежда – церковные ризы; другие названия – божественные и духовные особы и другие.Вопросник насчитывает 220 вопросов. Для записей применена фонетическая транскрипция. Автором не вводились корректуры ответов – они даны в форме высказанной респондентами. Пояснение менее известных терминов и определений приводится в приложенном к материалу словарике.
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Sickness is considered one of the „old” social risks. In many transition countries the universal health care system was reformed and insurance system was introduced. This is the case of, among other countries, of Bulgaria. In the article the new health insurance system is described. The critical analysis of the system is also provided.
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Euroscepticism is often linked to the disappointment with the outcomes of transition as well as overgrown expectations that accompanied the accession to the European Union. The main aim of the paper is to investigate if and how party‑based Euroscepticism has been active in Bulgaria, a post‑ communist country in CEE and a member of the European Union since 2007. The paper will present the rhetoric and characteristics of main Eurosceptic political parties in Bulgaria. Bulgarian public opinion used to be perceived as one of the most pro‑European among the member states, but current events show that the European issue is not so salient for the Bulgarian society and political elite. The difficult social and political situation marginalises discussions about the functioning of the EU and the future of Europe. Not only the absence of Euroscepticism, but also the lack of any European issues in party manifestos is puzzling. This paper aims to answer the question if Bulgarian politicians are so pro‑European or rather if Europe doesn’t really matter to the elites.
The article focuses on the cult of the Virgin Mary in the village of Popovo, Pernik region, and the way that cult becomes a factor in maintaining the local memory of the community that experienced traumatic changes in Bulgaria at the beginning of the socialist period. The villages of Popovo and Krapets were displaced because of the intensive industrialization of the Pernik region in the early 50s of the twentieth century and the building of the Studena dam. The population was moved near the newly-built state-owned metallurgical plant named after V.I. Lenin (now Stomana Industry), where the building of the largest quarter of the town started. Access was prohibited to the villages and the settlers’ need to adapt to the new conditions resulted in looking for compensatory mechanisms in maintaining the community life and local memory of the two previous settlements. The building of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church in the new quarter named after Lenin (now Iztok) is perceived as a kind of continuation of the destroyed village churches, and its patron saint’s day is celebrated up to the very present by the previous inhabitants of Popovo and their descendants. The study is based on field research among the settlers from the two villages, as well as on observations on the restored village feast in Popovo after 1989, and on the celebrations of the Day of the Virgin Mary in the Iztok quarter of Pernik.
Main purpose of the text is to present specifics of development of contemporary Bulgarian ethnology which are potentially not well known in the Czech Republic. The main specific of this development is main role of folkloristics in establishment of this field since 1989; ethnography played only secondary role in this process, resulting in state of affairs different from other nations of South- Eastern Europe. Other specifics of post-1989 development of Bulgarian ethnology are also presented resulting in the conclusion that current Bulgarian ethnology now exists as academic field parallel to sociocultural anthropology.
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The works carried out during the time between the Nice and Sofia Conferences have been presented. They mainly concern the forthcoming installation of the antennas of the two permanent stations, combined processing of two campaigns - BULREF'03 and BULREF'93. Results from test measurements at the selected antenna places, from the processing of the GPS data for the Balkan Peninsula stations and other specific activities related to the Work Package 10.7 (WP 10.7) have been outlined.
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The paper presents the problem of the influence of positive and negative stereotypes of the Turk on the Bulgarian state’s policy towards the Muslim minority in 1878–1912. The first part of the text analyses the evolution of the negative stereotype of the Turk as the “cruel tormentor” and the positive one of the “good neighbor” in Bulgarian culture from the beginning of the Ottoman period to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The second part focuses on the discriminative aspects of Bulgarian minority policy towards the Muslim population that was mostly implemented at the end of the 1870s and the beginning of the 1880s. Part three presents examples of the tolerant attitude by Bulgarian authorities that dominated Sofia’s policy towards the Muslims from the Union from 1885 to the outbreak of the Balkan Wars.
Along with the political, social and political changes in Bulgaria and Romania, new threads have appeared in the debate on identity since the early 1990s. From one side, it was the result of challenges and threats in the dimension of foreign policy and security of these two countries, and on the other side – the result of new opportunities that emerged in front of Bulgaria and Romania in the generally changed geopolitical situation. It seems that Romania remains more consistent and expressive in its choices. In turn, Bulgaria has undergone a greater evolution, and given the level from which it began after 1989, maybe even a revolution in the perception of its European identity.
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This note tests current account sustainability in Bulgaria from 1967 to 2004. Empirical analysis adopts various unit root and cointegration tests with structural breaks. Evidence of a long run relation between exports and imports in Bulgaria is shown, despite the financial crisis of 1996/8. Intertemporal current account constraint is not violated in Bulgaria.