A Case Study on Muslim minorities in Bulgaria (Turks and Muslim Bulgarians)
Publisher: International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations*, Sofia, Bulgaria
55 Antim I St.
1303 SofiaBulgaria
Tel: +359 283-23112/24044
Fax: +359 2 9310-583
http://www.imir-bg.org
Synopsis
The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of the European regional policy and the European integration of Bulgaria on the political mobilisation, social-economic status and the perception of two compact Muslim groups – Turks and Muslim Bulgarians (Pomaks), who are the local majority in the Kardzhali and Smolyan districts of the South Central Region of Bulgaria – about their place within united Europe.
Two basic factors influence the changes in the two districts, namely: the liberalisation of minority rights and the restructuring of the local economy. These factors stimulate the political and cultural mobilisation of the two Muslim minorities, change their economic status, and create new foundations for their attitude towards the state and the Bulgarian national majority. The penetration of the pre-accession funds in the region has been perceived in the same context: as part of the new political situation, and yet, it is probably too early to assess their overall impact.
Bulgaria_Muslims_case_study_FINAL-ed.pdf (347.79 kB)
