Under the spell of social radicalisation? – The situation of ethnic minorities in Bulgaria

Abstract

Bulgaria has been a country of immigration and transit for thousands of years. With the emergence of a Bulgarian national state after almost 500 years of belonging to the Ottoman Empire, an anti-Islamic view became firmly established as an element of Bulgarian nationalism. Several wars and crises and the associated emigration, expulsion and flight movements have changed the ethnic image of Bulgaria since its independence to a considerable extent. Nevertheless, the country remained a clearly multi-ethnic state, even though minorities are no longer mentioned in the constitution. The relationship between the Bulgarian majority society and Muslim minorities such as the Turks, Pomaks, Roma and Tartars remained tense. Since the turn of the millennium at the latest, there has been a noticeable increase in anti-Islamic, anti-gypsy and xenophobic movements in the Bulgarian state, which is affected by emigration and growing demographic problems.