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Description

Thirty years after Bulgaria’s democratic breakthrough, this book provides a “balance sheet” of the country’s democratic institutions through a number of interdisciplinary contributions. The volume is organized around three themes—democratic institutions, civil society, and European Union (EU) processes—and examines such topics such as voting, political parties, populism, media, civil society organizations, identity, and the rule of law. While the contributors argue that Bulgaria’s democracy is successful in terms of the procedural norms of democracy, civic participation, and compliance with EU rules, they also identify serious problem areas. Bulgaria’s democratic institutions struggle with obstacles such as populist Euroscepticism, political elitism, corruption, and a lack of political accountability, though this volume fully acknowledges the historical development of Bulgarian democracy, including its achievements and continuing setbacks.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Thirty Years of Bulgarian Democracy: Lessons (Partly) Learned
Petia Kostadinova

Part I: The National Electoral Process
Chapter Two: Direct Democracy and Electoral System Reform
Tanya Bagashka

Chapter Three: Preferential Voting and Party Loyalty: How Bulgarian Voters Respond to Parties' Choices
Tatiana Kostadinova

Chapter Four: Representation Trends in Pledge Making: Do Election Promises Reflect Distinctions between Political Parties in Bulgaria?
Petia Kostadinova

Chapter Five: State Capture: A Crippling Political Affliction and the Search for Antidotes
Stoycho P. Stoychev

Part II: Civil Society
Chapter Six: Bulgarian Populist Nationalism on Digital Steroids: The Case of Siderov's Ataka Party
Elza Ibroscheva and Maria Stover

Chapter Seven: The Permutations of Bulgarian Citizens and Migration Post-1989
Maria Stoilkova

Chapter Eight: Digital Media and the Thinning Out of Civic Activism: Empowerment/Disempowerment of the Savvy Few
Maria Bakardjieva and Kjell Engelbre

Product details

Published May 21 2020
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 316
ISBN 9781793607720
Imprint Lexington Books
Illustrations 11 b/w illustrations;17 tables;
Dimensions 9 x 6 inches
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

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This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.

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