The New Model Army? Bulgarian Experiences of Professionalisation

Abstract

All states in central and eastern Europe have been concerned with establishing stable and legitimate governments and with incorporating the armed forces within that framework rather than having those forces dictate to government. The means to that end have been the assertion of democratic civilian control over the armed forces and their subsequent professionalisation. In attempting these reforms, the states of the region have looked towards Western states and institutions for guidance and inspiration. While advice has been willingly given, there has been a tacit understanding that the success or failure of defence reform will ultimately be dependent upon domestic determinants. Bulgaria is illustrative of this point, for the transformation of its defence sector has been dependent upon the broader processes of institutionalising democracy and furthering economic development. While significant progress has been made in terms of drafting the legislation required for democratic civilian control, the supportive culture necessary for the professionalisation of the armed forces has not yet fully developed. The internal motor of reform has tended to stall at crucial moments, progress only being resumed when Western institutions have chosen to offer a jump-start. As a result, while there is much to commend in Bulgarian defence reform, much remains to be done.KeywordsInternal MotorDefence ForceGeneral StaffDemocratic ControlDefence BudgetThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.