THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND INNOVATIONS FOR TRANSFORMATION OF RURAL AREAS IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Nowadays, the role of the human factor in achieving economic growth, improving the quality of life and increasing the well-being of people in rural areas is significantly increasing. This is due to critical factors for lagging development or "marginalization" of rural areas, which leads to depopulation of migration, as well as loss of economic and social capital as building blocks for economic growth. At the same time, there is an upward trend for the revival and transformation of rural areas in Bulgaria thanks to social capital, expressed through growing trust and partnership, as well as the charge of collective voluntary interaction and civic energy.Social capital refers to the resources and benefits that individuals or groups in a society can access through their social networks, relationships, and interactions. It encompasses trust, cooperation and social norms that facilitate cooperation and coordination between people. In this report, the author examines the role and factors for the development of social capital in rural areas of Bulgaria by making a comparative analysis of good practices related to the revival of small settlements thanks to civic activity and social innovations. As a result of the research, the thesis is confirmed that the formation of social capital in rural areas is a long process and depends on factors and events that contribute to the development and strengthening of social networks, trust and cooperation within communities. These factors can help foster a sense of community, cooperation and shared identity among rural residents in Bulgaria, which is especially important in situations of natural disasters, hazards and challenges.In addition, the report examines the role of social capital in Bulgaria as a tool for restoring trust and local identity in rural areas after a long political and economic transition, as well as the contribution of social innovations to the implementation of community-led local development. The role of local action groups as a new kind of collective form for organizing communities in rural areas and the potential for revival based on local resources and identity is traced.