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Constituting the Image of Europe in the Post-Socialist Period in Bulgaria

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Constituting the Image of Europe in the Post-Socialist Period in Bulgaria Copyright © Museum Tusculanums Press Constituting the Image of Europe in the Post-Socialist Period in Bulgaria Milena Benovska-S abkova Benovska-Sâbkova, Milena 2002: Constituting the Image of Europe in the Post- Socialist Period in Bulgaria. – Ethnologia Europaea 32:1: 49–56. The concept of “European identity” can be discussed in its geographical dimen- sions, as well as from a historical, cultural, economic or political point of view. In some instances, the geographical belonging to Europe does not fully coincide with the awareness of a cultural and/or political European identity. Like their predeces- sors from the late 19th century, the Bulgarians of today, after the end of socialist regime, live with the feeling of being “isolated” and “forgotten” by the rest of the th European continent. While in the late 19 century the concept of Europe was used synonymously with “civilisation” and “modernisation”, today it is associated with the overcoming of the closedness and the social deformations of totalitarian rule. But the Bulgarians’ concept of Europe is still vague and abstract. This vagueness of the image of Europe turns “the European card” into a ready tool and argument in the political struggle between main political actors. The very possibility of using the concept of Europe as a strong political argument, however, indicates that the image of Europe is positive and has a high position in the value system of the Bulgarians of today. Milena Benovska-Sabkova, Dr., New Bulgarian University/Ethnographic Insti- tute, Moskovska 6-A Str., Sofia-1000, Bulgaria. E-mail: [email protected] The concept of “European identity” can be dis- In the 19th century, the conviction spread cussed in its geographical dimensions, as well among the educated elite that had emerged in th as from a historical, cultural, economic or polit- the early 19 century that their country was ical point of view. In some instances, the geo- isolated and “forgotten” by the world. This con- graphical belonging to Europe does not fully viction was shared by intellectuals of neigh- coincide with the awareness of a cultural and/or bouring countries. The endeavour to “take Bul- political European identity. In certain periods garia out of obscurity” (Aprilov 1841: 91, 93) was of its history, Bulgarian society has given food common both to Vasil Aprilov, one of the pio- for thought along these lines. neers of modern education in Bulgaria, and to A “supranational” identity of any kind among the Russian scholar Jurij Venelin (Venelin 1829; the Bulgarians can rightfully be considered to Dinekov 1990: 78–79). “For us Bulgaria of today have appeared in the second half of the 18th is a closed book with uncut pages”, Stanko Vraz, century, i.e. in the period referred to in histori- a Slovenian man of letters, stated in his article ography as the “National Revival” and after. “Bãlgarski narodni pesni” [Bulgarian Folk Without exaggerating the closedness of feudal Songs] (Vraz 1847: 37). society, one cannot deny that it was particularly The motif of the “forgotten” and “unfamiliar” strong under the conditions of the lack of Bul- Bulgaria persisted in later periods, as becomes garian statehood in the five centuries of Otto- evident in the debate on the “Veda Slovena”, a man rule (14th–19th century). In the National folklore collection considered to be a mystifica- Revival Period (as well as in the Middle Ages) tion which, however, found broad response the Bulgarian people defined their own identity among linguists and historians in various Eu- by their belonging to the Orthodox Christian ropean countries (cf. e.g. Leger 1875) in the religion (Kosev 1993: 270). 1870s. Somewhat later, Ivan Sismanov, the Ethnologia Europaea vol. 32: 1; e-journal. 2004. ISBN 87 635 0150 3 49 Copyright © Museum Tusculanums Press founder of ethnology in Bulgaria, called “Veda how to trade, and they travelled to Central Slovena” “the first Bulgarian book, which suc- Europe, as well as to Russia. On their way back ceeded in arousing a lively interest among the they took knowledge and news, along with books European scholarly world in Bulgaria and in its and prints. They also brought tools, architectur- past” (Sismanov 1925: 33). al models, objects of everyday life, elements of To what an extent is the conviction of the painting” (Mutafcieva 1993: 211). Bulgarians that their country is isolated and Evidence of the interest and contacts of the forgotten justified, and how is it reflected in 19th century Bulgarian with the world outside their attitude to “the external world”, i.e., to can also be found in literature. The novelette Europe? The lack of information about a coun- “Cicovci” [Uncles] (1884) and the novel Pod try that up until 1878 had not figured on the igoto [Under the Yoke] (1894) by Ivan Vazov, political map of Europe is easy to explain. Does written shortly after the gaining of national this mean, however, complete oblivion for Bul- independence (1878), recreate the atmosphere garia? Some data indicate that although de- of the 1860s and 1870s; in the small cosmos of prived of statehood during Ottoman rule, “the their characters there is place for comic and non-existent Bulgarian kingdom was part of naive comments on the European policy and for the European political world” (Georgieva 1993: fierce disputes on the topical political develop- 313). At different periods Hungarian or Ger- ments in Europe of that time. man rulers claimed the title of “tsar of Bulgar- It is obvious that in Bulgarian political and th ia”; in the 17 century, in his capacity of “tsar of cultural history evidence can be found both of Bulgaria” the German Emperor Ferdinand III its “isolation” and of its “openness”. But how did insisted that Pope Alexander VII appoint a this feeling of distance between Bulgaria and cardinal protector of the kingdom of Bulgaria at Europe come about, a feeling that paradoxically the Vatican; in 1656 Cardinal Colona was ap- came to the fore directly after Liberation, i.e., pointed to that post. The Russian Tsar Ivan IV together with the establishment of full-fledged Vasilievich-Groznyi (1533–1584) followed the relations with the rest of the world? This dis- same line of conduct, by also adding “tsar of the tance is evident to this day even in the everyday Bulgarians” to his title (ibid., 314). discourse of Bulgarians who speak of Europe as But isolation was not total. Despite the hard- of something they do not belong to. A similar ships during the period of Turkish rule, con- attitude is characteristic not only for the Bul- tacts with the “external world” did not cease. garians (Kelbeceva 1998: 21–25), but also for Vera Mutafèieva’s deliberations seem convinc- the other peoples in the Balkans (Herzfeld 1995 ing in this respect: “No matter how hampered, [1998]: 8–15), and it becomes evident both in the spirit of the New Time infiltrated Bulgaria. phrases such as “I’m leaving for Europe” (Roth It came by way of contacts with Bulgarian 1992: 12) and in travel agents and newspapers clergymen or merchants who travelled beyond advertising “Buses to Europe”. The first part of the frontiers of the Empire. Initially, they had the satirical novel Baj Ganjo by Aleko Konstan- the closest relations with Serbia and Wallachia, tinov (1895) describes the hero’s travels abroad and from the 16th century on, also with Greece, under the symptomatic title “Bai Ganjo Sets Russia, Austria. [...] But most essential for the Out for Europe”. Apparently, the incongruity intellectual growth of these brave travellers between such phrases and geographical reality were their impressions from another world, never confused the members of Bulgaria’s lighted by spirituality, rich in developments intellectual elite, to which Aleko Konstantinov and personalities. [...] It was probably then that undoubtedly belonged. This incongruity even the Bulgarians started to awaken in the 17th infiltrated scientific terminology where, for ex- and 18th century: by making comparisons. This ample, a certain period in the development of gradually became accessible to increasing num- Bulgarian literature is referred to as “Europe- bers of them, who went beyond the frontier and anisation”. The term is associated with the first their poverty, as well as beyond their dread of half of the 20th century and indicates the Ottoman omnipotence. The Bulgarians learned overcoming of narrowly national subject mat- Ethnologia Europaea vol. 32: 1; e-journal. 2004. 50 ISBN 87 635 0150 3 Copyright © Museum Tusculanums Press ter by Bulgarian poets and writers and the “The collapse of socialism in Eastern Europe adoption of modern philosophical trends and has led to decline and fall of the conceptual ideas (Igov 1993: 152–153). geography based on East vs. West, with implica- Underlying the ambivalent nature of the tions for both parts of the continent. Political Bulgarians’ European identity is probably not borders and blocks have disappeared, but na- only the peripheral location of the Balkans in tional, ethnic, cultural and social differences Europe (cf. Roth 1992), but also a recognition of are still at work. Today we can observe on the cultural differences. In the second half of the one hand a new symbolic geography in Europe, 19th century, the concept of Europe began to be but on the other we are witnessing how old lines used as synonymous with the concept of “civili- of demarcations are revitalized, how different sation” which, in turn, included the understand- cultural imaginations of Europe are politically ing of “modernisation” as an antipode of the instrumentalized, and how political conflicts traditional “patriarchal” way of life (Bajcinska are being culturalized. A new Europe is emerg- 1997: 56). It is noteworthy that “civilisation”, or ing, but behind this imagination we have to face “Europe”, caught the attention of the Bulgari- old problems and unsolved conflicts from the ans first of all through their external, formal past” (Niedermüller & Stoklund 2001: 3).
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