Populism in Bulgaria Between Politicization of Media and Mediatization of Politics

Dobrinka Peicheva,Lilia Raycheva

doi:10.17951/ms.2017.1.1.69

Dobrinka Peicheva, Lilia Raycheva

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17951/ms.2017.1.1.69

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Abstract

Populism as a political position and rhetorical style is nowadays an object of comprehensive research and multi-faceted social discussions. The strong critical attitude of populists towards the status quo, towards what they regard as the chimera of democracy, is generally intertwined with the function of the media as a corrective factor with regard to government authorities. The development of mankind in the present is characterized by transformation trends in technological, economic, and social spheres. These trends impact the political environment as well. The challenges of the economic crisis, as well as the migration processes are strengthening the position of euro-skeptics and revitalize the development of populism. The present text is focused on the developments of political populism in Bulgaria. The political environment in the country is characterized by almost permanent merge of political entities, which gradually escalates the use of populist approaches, styles and rhetoric. Research attention to this political phenomenon is determined by the success of some newly formed populist parties during the new century, gradually winning considerable numbers of seats in the parliament. The use of populist phraseology is evident among all political parties in the country, whether left- or right-oriented. Bulgarian political actors of a populist trend – including political leaders and parties – have mixed, oftentimes changing, characteristics. this populist phraseology is transmitted to audiences mainly through the media. It has to be noted that the dynamics of the pre-election campaigns during the period of democratization since 1989 has been developing alongside demonopolization, liberalization and transformation of the media system. Deregulation of the radio and TV broadcasting sector dragged on, giving way to the development of two mutually bound processes – politicization of the media and mediatization of politics. The paper is structured in three methodologically interconnected parts, presenting: an overview of the process of politicization of the media and mediatization of politics in Bulgaria; an analysis of the political populist trends in the country; a discussion on the connections between populism and the media.

Highlights

New information technologies are enhancing the communication process of identifying and setting the public agenda
S his fundamentally new situation of social disintegration and shortage of social synergy is a nourishing environment for the revival of populism, primarily by non-systemic political parties. hough it has one of the leading world economies, the Europe-Can Union is still feeling the sting of the economic crisis
Populism as a political position and rhetorical style has been the object of comprehensive research and multi-faceted social discussions. he strong critical attitude of populists towards the status quo, towards what they regard as the chimera of democracy, is generally intertwined with the function of the media to be a corrective

Summary

Introduction

New information technologies are enhancing the communication process of identifying and setting the public agenda. He major signiicance of television was manifested in several critical situations during the years, including: the TV attack against President Petar Mladenov in 1990 that compelled him to resign; the resignation of the BSP Government headed by Andrey Lukanov in 1990; the mass media war launched by the UDF Government of Filip Dimitrov, which led to its toppling in 1992; the exit of the Government of Lyuben Berov (under the Movement for Rights and Freedom mandate) in 1994; the withdrawal of the BSP Government of Zhan Videnov in 1996; the siege of the House of the National Assembly in the situation of governmental crisis in 1997, which led to radical power shit; the forced restructuring of the UDF Government of Ivan Kostov in 1999, due to corruption allegations; the attacks that brought about ministerial replacements in the Simeon II Government in 2005 and in the three-party coalition (Coalition for Bulgaria, Movement for Rights and Freedoms and National Movement Simeon II) of Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev; the constant corrective activism with respect to the government of Boyko Borisov (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) and the wide coverage of the social protests which led to the earlier resignation of Borisov’s. The political and the media environment (especially in pre-election times) is still not open to the parameters of pluralism or independence [Raycheva and Petev 2003]

Populist political actors

The media and populism