ONG et enjeux minoritaires en Bulgarie : au-delà de l'« importation/ exportation » des modèles internationaux

Abstract

NGOs and Minority Issues in Bulgaria: Beyond the Import/Export of International Models Since the fall of communism, a vast body of literature has been devoted to the transfers to the east of international norms, rules and standards in public policy. Rather than view this process via the study of export rationales (alternately seen as virtuous or asymmetrical) or import rationales (supposedly passive or zealous), this article examines the concrete mechanisms through which social problems, policies are devised and remodeled as the various local, regional and transnational actors take them up. Starting with a study of the role of NGOs in the construction of minority issues in Bulgaria, it highlights the multiple ways in which the categories and international priorities are shaped by Bulgarian leaders that have learned to use the international repertoire to position themselves on a competitive domestic market. The analysis also underscores the fragile, porous nature of borders between what is presented as pertaining to or import due to the multipositionality of agents that are both and integrated into transnational networks, even involved in formulating recommendations for so-called export institutions. In place of the export/import pair, it might be heuristic to substitute the notion of circulating themes and mechanism, while investigating their integration into local histories.