Area Handbook Series: Bulgaria. A Country Study

Curtis, Glenn E.

doi:10.21236/ada273007

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Bulgaria has sympathy for national movements that started to take place around the Balkans during the Ottoman rule (Skreszewska et al., 2019). This claim was indicated to be one of the “ movement ideals ” (Curtis, 1993, pp. 14–15) in Bulgaria.…”

Section: Making Sense Of “The Three Seas” As a Claim Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14–15) in Bulgaria. With the Bulgarian national uprising, many nationalistic ideals like this were easily passed publicly through “ speeches, lectures, gatherings ” (Curtis, 1993, p. 16) in the educational form of a “ reading room (chitalishte) ” that has an “ important cultural role ” (Curtis, 1993, p. 16). At the same time, this “movement ideal” was part of many important political changes in Bulgaria‐directly related to the collective desire to free the country from five centuries of Ottoman rule (referred in school books as “ Turkish yoke ”) (Çicek, 2017, p. 536).…”

Section: Making Sense Of “The Three Seas” As a Claim Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Bulgaria on three seas!”: An example of regression as a defense mechanism experienced by a large‐group in a response to its national inferiority complex

Nikolova

2023

Appl Psychoanal Studies

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Abstract“Bulgaria on three seas” is a commonly used phrase in Bulgaria. It is used on national celebration days, around government election days, in populist campaigns, on TV shows, on social media, at folkloric concerts and gatherings and in simple everyday conversations. The phrase signifies a specific golden century of Bulgarian history characterized by the fact that Bulgaria reaches the Black, White and Adriatic seas. Today, the phrase is regularly used by Bulgarians when they talk about their country. This glorious time is also used as part of the political and public rhetoric where ideology has nationalistic character. It is present during political public debates about the country's reactions to both its past and its future. The phrase “Bulgaria on three seas” lifts the national spirit during moments of struggle. And all that raises questions about why Bulgarians constantly refer to this part of their history and what this regressive behavior demonstrates. This article aims to provide a psychological explanation, combining the concepts of regression (going back to the past), denial of the present and national inferiority complex (perceived helplessness and weakness) in order to analyze how a nation could respond to its own feelings of national group inferiority. It explains how regression is a response to one's own feelings of inferiority and it contributes to the studies of large‐group psychology established by Vamik Volkan by offering an alternative explanation. The work demonstrates that regression is the Bulgarian way of dealing with its own inferiority complexes when in denial about what is happening in the present. This takes place when group identity (or an aspect of it) is questioned. The article also provides a pathway to further exploration of how other nations deal with similar experiences.

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Section: Making Sense Of “The Three Seas” As a Claim Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Making Sense Of “The Three Seas” As a Claim Todaymentioning

confidence: 99%

“Bulgaria on three seas!”: An example of regression as a defense mechanism experienced by a large‐group in a response to its national inferiority complex

Nikolova

2023

Appl Psychoanal Studies

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“…In 1988 the strength of the whole Bulgarian Peoples' Army -Land Forces, air forces, navy, Construction Troops etc. -stood at about 152,000 (Curtis 1993). In the next three years, the Socialist system shrivelled and effectively disappeared from Europe.…”

Section: The 1970s Onwardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So slowly the Land Forces' force structure changed out of all recognition. Early official concerns about significant numbers of Turkish forces in Thrace and western Anatolia (Curtis 1993) did not lead to war. Turkish military capabilities did not mean that Turkey had any intention to invade Bulgaria.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Bulgarian Land Forces in the Cold War

Robinson, Ph.D

2023

BNDU

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During the Cold War, information in Western open sources about Bulgarian Land Forces’ war plans, organisation, and order of battle was absent or very general, until the last years of the 1980s. Yet there is much more information now available after 30 years, and this is a very valid topic for research. Bulgaria was drawn into Soviet war planning for the elimination of capitalism. Bulgaria’s planned part in this was helping to seize the Turkish Straits, either with or without the use of tactical nuclear weapons. It now appears that there would have been two Fronts advancing in this area, one predominantly Soviet Odessa Military District forces to seize the Turkish Straits, and the other more heavily Bulgarian in composition attacking towards central Greece. Both would have been supported by tactical air forces and, if the circumstances dictated, nuclear weapons. Later, with the commitment of strategic reserves, it was hoped to develop the offensive in depth towards the Syrian border. The forces formed to carry this mission out were reorganized repeatedly from 1945-55, as the Communist Party tightened its control over the country. The organisation of the Land Forces was much more settled after the early 1960s. Bulgarian history will be better served by more open debate over these issues.

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The Bulgarian ethnic model: post-1989 Bulgarian ethnic conflict resolution

DeDominicis

2011

Natl. pap.

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Bulgarian majority and Turkish minority relations have remained peaceful in the post Communist era despite a significant potential for civil strife. These antagonisms were a product of Bulgaria's historical political development. The most recent episode of forced assimilation policies under the Communist regime was a critical grievance contributing to the democratic transition in 1989. Unlike in neighboring Yugoslavia, communal ethnic conflict did not escalate to violence with political liberalization and the emergence of democratic political competition. A critical factor in the political formula for maintaining interethnic peace in Bulgaria has been Turkey's comparatively constrained behavior as a “motherland state” with regard to the Turkish Diaspora in Bulgaria.

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Area Handbook Series: Bulgaria. A Country Study

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

“Bulgaria on three seas!”: An example of regression as a defense mechanism experienced by a large‐group in a response to its national inferiority complex

“Bulgaria on three seas!”: An example of regression as a defense mechanism experienced by a large‐group in a response to its national inferiority complex

The Bulgarian Land Forces in the Cold War

The Bulgarian ethnic model: post-1989 Bulgarian ethnic conflict resolution

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