DOCSLIB.ORG

European Election Campaign 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
European Election Campaign 2014 REPORT Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung & Foundation Media Democracy MEDIA MONITORING LABORATORY June 2014 Bulgarian Media Monitoring: European election campaign 2014 www.fmd.bg www.kas.de/medien-europa/en As in previous years, in 2014 the At the same time, the expectation and over- Foundation Media Democracy (FMD) attention set in these elections reached the continues the monitoring of the media level of western’s suspense. The elections environment in cooperation with the were presented in the media as extremely, Media Program South East Europe of crucially important – though not as Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). The European elections, but rather as internal report for the period January – May 2014 political ones. Their main stake and motive focuses on the election campaign for the was reduced in the media to the question: European Parliament. “Will there be early elections at home?” The whole campaign in the media revolved The analyses have been prepared by the substantially around that, and the European team of the Media Monitoring Laboratory dimension acquired the nuance of an (Nikoleta Daskalova, Gergana Kutseva, advertising slogan or a luxury accessory. Silvia Petrova, Marina Kirova, Bogdana Dencheva, Eli Aleksandrova, Maya Tsaneva NATIONAL TV CHANNELS AND DAILIES and Vladimir Kisimdarov). The experts Georgi Lozanov and Todor P. Todorov were During the first half of 2014, Boyko Borissov also invited to share their appraisal of the remained the politician who was most current developments in the media frequently mentioned in the monitored environment. Part of the monitoring is media, followed by Rosen Plevneliev, based on quantitative and qualitative data Sergey Stanishev and Plamen Oresharski. prepared by Market Links Agency for the Among institutions, Citizens for European joint analysis of FMD and KAS. In summary, Development of Bulgaria (Grazhdani za the main findings, by areas of monitoring, evropeysko razvitie na Bulgaria, include: abbreviated GERB) is in the first place. Behind them are the Movement for Rights MEDIA DISCOURSE and Freedoms (Dvizhenie za prava i svobodi, DPS), the Bulgarian Socialist Party The theme of Europe was scarce in the (Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya, BSP) media talk on elections. Outside the and the government. It is obvious that the advertising messages, media proved to be role of DPS in the governance of the country unable to address Europe with the language is becoming increasingly discussed in the and problems it brings. This inability stems media. Borissov and his party retained the from the absence of sufficient dedicated ability to generate attention, although it too journalists, from the weak expert often took the form of critical attitude knowledge of European issues as well as towards them. Here, the principle “there is from the incapability to express and define no such thing as bad publicity” was well them as significant for Bulgarian reality. presented. After all, the intense media There is a certain cultural reflex – the presence can be valuable in itself and bring detachment from Europe, which is electoral success. recognized as “there” and means a distant and foreign place incommensurable with Among characters who expressed attitude, “our” reality. Nikolay Barekov aggressively displaced 2 Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung & Boyko Borissov and Sergey Stanishev: a chose parties towards which the media have Foundation Media Democracy clear indication of the media rise of the a clearer attitude and punished those who former journalist and present politician. In seemed more controversial. MEDIA MONITORING this year, his word on key issues imper- LABORATORY ceptibly turned into a media priority. Prime PUBLIC BROADCASTERS AND Minister Oresharski is only in the fifth place SPECIALIZED INFORMATION MEDIA June 2014 – a fact highlighting his efforts to maintain an expert image and not a political one. The public service and specialized electronic www.fmd.bg and online information media (BNT, BNR, TV www.kas.de/medien-europa/en In television, several important trends Europe, Bulgaria on Air, www.dnevnik.bg, emerged. Compared to the press, here the www.europe.bg) put efforts for voters to politics was given a greater information make informed choice on the “Europe” importance. In all four monitored media, theme. Compared with the rest of the the attitudes towards the government, media, they maintained the most neutral Sergey Stanishev, Boyko Borissov and attitude towards the candidates for the GERB range between the negative and European Parliament and offered a deeper neutral. The most consensual is the attitude observation of the work of the European towards DPS – it is positive virtually institutions. Brussels-Sofia relations were everywhere. And vice versa, the most discussed through the expertise of current polarized is the attitude towards BSP and members of the European Parliament, the President. For BSP it fluctuates between academics and analysts. However, the the negative (in bTV and BNT) and positive published reports of the former Bulgarian (in TV7). The attitudes towards Rosen members of the EP as well as the Plevneliev in turn are divided between information and analytical materials on critical (TV7) and rather affirmative (NOVA). Brussels institutions and on the elections in other Member States proved to be of no In dailies, the attitude towards Boyko interest for the audience. The debates on Borissov, GERB and Rosen Plevneliev was the European Commission President did not clearly negative. With Sergey Stanishev and arouse serious interest or discussion, either. DPS it ranges between the negative and The issues of energy policy, Europe-Russia neutral. In the print editions as well as in relations, the crisis in Ukraine, the electronic media, BSP again strongly expansion of the labor market, the polarized the attitudes: they are placed management of the refugee flow and the between criticism (Sega) and positive absorption of EU funds were popular, but at announcement (Telegraph). The press also operational national level and not in the polarized the attitude towards the context of the EU policies. government. Opposing are the attitudes of Sega (negative) and of Telegraph (positive). ONLINE MEDIA AND NEWS SITES The media ratings representing the ratio between the positive and negative coverage In the period of January – May 2014, online remained negative for all monitored media often reproduced and collaged news politicians, except for the Prime Minister strategies and repertoires arousing Plamen Oresharski (1.4) and Nikolay associations of earlier processes and events. Barekov (1.0). Volen Siderov has the lowest The Chairman of GERB Boyko Borissov media rating (- 9.3), followed by Boyko came back again in the role of a central Borissov (- 8.7). However, this did not media hero – regardless of the variable and prevent Borissov from winning the elections conjunctural nature of the media attitude for the European Parliament, and Siderov towards him he continued to be a high- from asking to annul them. In the elections, rating news person. Political actors, ultimately, the parties described by the supported by the media framing itself, tried media as either “bad” (GERB) or relatively to recreate the confrontation model set by “good” (DPS, Bulgaria Without Censorship) Borissov and Stanishev in 2009 – with did best. Those who most polarize the personalized, dramatic and hot conflicts media attitude lost (BSP). It seems voters serving the media commercial logic. Media 3 Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung & fighting in 2014, however, did not manage Again, women were more active in the Foundation Media Democracy to reach the charge of those of five years lifestyle sphere and femininity was often ago. As a general rule, the media campaign used as a means of political advertising. MEDIA MONITORING for the European Parliament was led by the With the help of lifestyle tools, the tendency LABORATORY party leaders – whether or not the relevant to coalescence between media and politics leaders were present in the electoral lists of was legitimized. June 2014 the parties. The candidates for the President of the European Commission of the major YELLOW PRESS www.fmd.bg European parties remained in the periphery www.kas.de/medien-europa/en of the media interest, although the outgoing In the third election campaign, after their EP President Martin Schulz enjoyed some appearance, the daily tabloids continued to informational advantage. function in an ecosystem of their own in which the creation of rumors and paparazzi The events in Ukraine were dominant news content remained the norm. The absence of background of the campaign. Although not important topics and rearrangement of the Ukraine itself, but rather Russia turned into political images in both editions led to a central subject of comments. Pro- or anti- clearance of space and focusing on new Russian sounding was clearly present in the political characters as Nikolay Barekov and media coverage. The attitude towards his formation “Bulgaria Without Censorship” Russia was entangled in another key issue (BWC). Other popular characters from the on the online media agenda – the issue of beginning of the year until the end of the energy policy. At the very climax of the campaign were: the MEP candidates Volen campaign – the month of the official Siderov (Ataka), Ivaylo Kalfin (ABV), Sergey agitation – the sites significantly narrowed Stanishev (BSP) and Meglena Kuneva the diversity of the topics covered and (Reformist Bloc), the former President and focused
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Alternative Report on the Implementation of Bulgaria's
    Alternative report on the Implementation of Bulgaria’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Bulgarian Helsinki Committee June, 2015 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction………………………………………………………………………………...…….6 1. Para. 6 and 14: Monitoring Body…………………………………………..……………..….7 2. Para. 13: Unified National Plan of Action………………………………………………….10 3. Para. 9: Harmonizing of National Legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child………………………………………………………………...................................... .13 4. Para. 16-17: Allocation of Resources…………………………………….…….……………………………………............13 4.1 General Overview of the Allocation of Resources…………………………………..………………………………………………….. 13 4.2 Allocation of Resources for Social Assistance………………………………………..…...15 4.3 Allocation of Resources for Education………………………………………………...…..18 4.4 Allocation of Resources for Health Care.............................................................................21 4.5 Allocation of Resources for Roma Integration…………………………………………....23 5. Para. 18-19: Data Collection……………………………………………………………..….28 6. Para. 10-11: Coordination…………………………………………………………………...29 7. Para. 20-21: Dissemination of the Convention and Training……………………...……...30 8. Para. 22-23: Cooperation of Government with Civil Society………………………..........31 9. Para. 24-25: Non-discrimination………………………………………….…………...…....32 10. Para. 26-27: Respect for the Views of the Child…………………………..…………… 33 10.1 Child Hearings with Children in Civil and Criminal Justice Proceedings………………………………………………………………………….…...........34
    [Show full text]
  • Political Impasse in Bulgaria | May 2021
    BULGARIAN CARETAKER GOVERNMENT as of May 2021 The Caretaker Government is positioning itself as one stepping in to manage a smooth transition, improve Bulgaria’s public image and continue the economic/public health recovery. While the vast political and corporate experience of the cabinet members is seen as a reassuring signal, the appointment of Stefan Yanev, the chief presidential security and defense advisor as caretaker PM, as well as the composition of the caretaker Cabinet have led to speculation that President Radev is looking to exert control over the political landscape. If the snap elections scheduled for July do not produce a stable governing coalition, the Caretaker Government is likely to emerge as a major stakeholder Stefan Yanev Prime Minister A retired brigadier general who has served the last four years as security adviser to President Rumen Radev; an alumnus of the National War College in Washington, Defence Minister in the previous caretaker government appointed by Radev in 2017 Deputy Prime Ministers Galab Donev Boyko Rashkov Atanas Pekanov Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister for Public Deputy Prime Minister for for Economic and Social Policies Order and Security European Funds Management and Minister of Labour and Social and Minister of the Interior Policy An economist at the Austrian Institute The most iconic figure in the new for Economic Research (WIFO) Former Secretary of Social Policy and Cabinet; rejected by GERB because and doctoral student at the University Health since May 2017, holding the post he interfered with its willingness of Economics and Business (WU Wien), of Minister in the same department to control the SRS (special intelligence where he teaches.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulgaria 2018
    Monitoring the Right to Free Assembly Pavleta Alexieva Aylin Yumerova Margarita Kaloyanova Radina Banova Nadya Shabani 2017 Bulgaria 2018 #right2freeassembly A TIME TO PROTEST: THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY IN BULGARIA Research report on citizens’ right to freedom of peaceful assembly Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law, 2017 - 2018 “... a group of shrill women who wanted to capitalize on Authors: Pavleta Alexieva, Aylin Yumerova, Margarita Kaloyanova, Radina Banova (Bulgarian Center their children, manipulating society, bringing these – presumably for Not-for-Profit Law) sick – children out in the scorching sun and in the rain, without a Editor: Nadya Shabani (Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law) hint of a motherly feeling of care for them...”, Published in May 2019 spoken by Valeri Simeonov, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy in the Third Government of Boyko This publication has been developed within the framework of the “Support to Civil Society Organizations Borissov, on occasion of the protest of mothers of children with Continued and Expanded” Project implemented by the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law and disabilities in 2018. financed by America for Bulgaria Foundation. The content and views expressed in this publication belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of America for Bulgaria Foundation. The monitoring report was conducted as part of the ‘Monitoring the Right to Free Assembly’ regional The Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) is a foundation registered under project, managed by the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) The project is made possible the Bulgarian law in 2001 as a non-profit public-benefit legal entity.
    [Show full text]
  • Zornitsa Markova the KTB STATE
    Zornitsa Markova THE KTB STATE Sofia, 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or express written consent from Iztok-Zapad Publishing House. transmitted in any form or by any means without first obtaining © Zornitsa Markova, 2017 © Iztok-Zapad Publishing House, 2017 ISBN 978-619-01-0094-2 zornitsa markova THE KTB STATE CHRONICLE OF THE LARGEST BANK FAILURE IN BULGARIA — THE WORKINGS OF A CAPTURED STATE THAT SOLD OUT THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR PRIVATE EXPEDIENCY CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS / 12 EDITOR’S FOREWORD / 13 SUMMARY / 15 READER’S GUIDE TO THE INVESTIGATION / 21 1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND / 23 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BULGARIAN BANKING SECTOR THAT PRE-DATE KTB ..........................................................25 Headed for a Banking Crisis .................................................................................................. 26 Scores of Banks Close Their Doors................................................................................... 29 First Private Bank — Backed by the Powerful, Favoured by the Government ......................................................... 33 Criminal Syndicates and Their Banks — the Birth of a State within the State ...........................................................................35 A Post-Crisis Change of Players ..........................................................................................37 A FRESH START FOR THE FLEDGLING KTB ..................................................... 40 KTB SALE ..........................................................................................................................................42
    [Show full text]
  • Governing Without an Opposition: the Aftermath
    A long-standing view among political scientists is that less fractionalized party systems produce Europe Review more stable democracy and deliver socially better results. Putting theory and practice together, the question that remains is, ‘is that always the case?’. Theoretically speaking, policy is more easily passed and policy choices can be expected to be more stable in the long run when supported by a united majority, yet, there can be situations in which the range of policy options is compromised due to the OVERNING fact that the political elite governing a state is just G not diverse enough. The results from the lack of a true political opposition are political instability and WITHOUT AN directional confusion both within and outside the state. Similar situation is revealing itself currently OPPOSITION: in Bulgaria, where after the parliamentary election held in May this year, the country’s government and its likely political choices, have taken a 180° THE AFTERMATH degree turn. Political crisis, radical change of direction (perhaps more for the outside world than for those OF THE EARLY currently leading the country), and once again a three-legged coalition – these are the PARLIAMENTARY characteristics of the current political situation in the country. The reason for calling early elections, ELECTION IN which were originally due at the end of the summer, was the resignation of the Borisov Cabinet earlier the same year. Ex-prime minister BULGARIA Boyko Borisov announced his cabinet resignation after nearly two weeks of spiraling social protests1 in which thousands of people demonstrated against the level of corruption, the lack of law and By Dr Ekaterina R.
    [Show full text]
  • Far from Stability: the Post-Election Landscape in Bulgaria Dariusz Kałan
    No. 50 (503), 15 May 2013 © PISM Editors: Marcin Zaborowski (Editor-in-Chief) . Katarzyna Staniewska (Managing Editor) Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz . Artur Gradziuk . Piotr Kościński Roderick Parkes . Marcin Terlikowski . Beata Wojna Far from Stability: The Post-Election Landscape in Bulgaria Dariusz Kałan Early parliamentary elections not only will not help restore political stability in Bulgaria but also could further deepen the chaos because of the high dispersion of votes and the expected difficulties with creating a coalition. For a country immersed in crisis, maintaining the post-election stalemate is particularly not beneficial because of the deteriorating economic situation and growing public pressure. Regardless of which party will return to power, one should not expect a significant improvement in Bulgaria’s image in the EU or a positive settlement of the most important issues, including the country’s rapid accession to the Schengen area. Although the winner of the early parliamentary elections of 12 May was the centre-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB, 30% of votes), for all four parties that exceeded the 4% electoral threshold, the results can be seen as satisfactory. GERB, the ruling party in 2009–2013, won for the second time in a row during unfavourable economic and social situations. The similar support for the Bulgarian Socialist Party (27%), which received more than 600,000 additional votes than in 2009, is because of the mobilisation of its permanent electorate and generational changes in the party. Also, for the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (11%), which represents the Turkish minority, and the nationalist Attack party (7%), the results are a confirmation of their stable positions on the political scene.
    [Show full text]
  • European Program Was Renamed to Security Program
    62 Security program In 2012 the European Program was renamed to Security Program. The new name reflects more accurately the long-term focus of the program on national and international security topics. 2012 Highlights: • The Security Program concentrated its efforts in three main areas: 1) developing a serious and organised crime threat analysis in Bulgaria; 2) research on policies related to forfeited criminal assets; and 3) study of corruption in law-enforcement agencies, with specific emphasis or border police and criminal police. • Assessing the threats of serious and organised crime in Bulgaria. An analysis of the criminal markets and of good practices in countering organised crime was developed and its results were published in the report Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment 2010 – 2011. In addition, a methodology for assessing those threats was developed addressing the needs of specialized agencies, and an education module based on it was designed to be utilized by professors and students at the Ministry of Interior Academy. • Forfeited criminal assets. Another important focus of the Security Program was the study of good European practices in countering organised crime through uncovering money laundering operations, confiscating the proceeds from illegal activities, and their further use for social purposes. • Anti-corruption measures and policies at law-enforcement agencies. A comprehensive review of good practices in cooperation between border police and customs administrations in applying anti-corruption measures at the EU external borders was completed as a follow-up to last year’s CSD research on the link between corruption and organised crime in the 27 EU Member States.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulgaria: the Greatest Vacillations Simeon Djankov March 1, 2014 In
    Bulgaria: The Greatest Vacillations Simeon Djankov March 1, 2014 In one of the most famous economics books, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, Joseph Schumpeter (1942) predicted the inevitable collapse of capitalism. I grew up in the last two decades of socialism in Bulgaria and as students we were repeatedly told that socialism would prevail in the whole world, and that in Bulgaria it would soon enter its ultimate form, communism. Then everything would be free and nobody would have to work, unless they wanted to. A strange thing to tell children. Luckily, few believed. In the summer of 1989 I finished high-school and took the entrance exams in international relations at the Karl Marx Institute of Economics in Sofia. In my graduating high-school class was also the grandson of the Secretary General of the Bulgarian Communist Party Todor Zhivkov. He, too, fancied a career in diplomacy. This was a problem. There were rigid quotas for entering international studies – for fear of students taking off to the West after graduation – and in that particular year there was only one slot allotted for diplomacy. As luck had it, Zhivkov Junior failed the exams and did what most offspring of totalitarian leaders had done before – went to study in Switzerland. And I entered the Karl Marx Institute. I did not stay long at the Karl Marx Institute, and neither did its name. In December 1988 during a speech at the United Nations Council in New York, Mikhail Gorbachev had declared that the Soviet Union would no longer intervene in the international affairs of other countries from the socialist bloc.
    [Show full text]
  • Modernity and Tradition: European and National in Bulgaria
    MODERNITY AND TRADITION: EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL IN BULGARIA Marko Hajdinjak, Maya Kosseva, Antonina Zhelyazkova IMIR MODERNITY AND TRADITION: EUROPEAN AND NATIONAL IN BULGARIA Marko Hajdinjak, Maya Kosseva, Antonina Zhelyazkova Project IME: Identities and Modernities in Europe: European and National Identity Construction Programmes, Politics, Culture, History and Religion International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations Sofia, 2012 This book is an outcome of the international research project IME – Identities and Modernities in Europe: European and National Identity Construction Programmes, Politics, Culture, History and Religion (2009-2012). IME was coordinated by Dr. Atsuko Ichijo from the Kingston University, UK. It involved Universities and research institutes from Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The project was funded by the Seventh Framework Program of the European Commission (FP7 2007-2013) Theme: SSH-2007-5.2.1 – Histories and Identities: articulating national and European identities Funding scheme: Collaborative projects (small or medium scale focused research projects) Grant agreement no.: 215949 For more information about project IME, visit: http://fass.kingston.ac.uk/research/helen-bamber/ime © Marko Hajdinjak, author, 2012 © Maya Kosseva, author, 2012 © Antonina Zhelyazkova, author, 2012 © International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, 2012 ISBN: 978-954-8872-70-6 CONTENTS Introduction, Marko Hajdinjak .......................7 Catching Up with the Uncatchable: European Dilemmas and Identity Construction on Bulgarian Path to Modernity, Maya Kosseva, Antonina Zhelyazkova, Marko Hajdinjak ..........13 Identity Construction through Education, State Promotion and Diaspora Policies in Bulgaria, Antonina Zhelyazkova, Maya Kosseva, Marko Hajdinjak ..........65 Living Next Door to “Europe”: Bulgarian Education between Tradition and Modernity, and between the European and National, Maya Kosseva, Marko Hajdinjak ....................
    [Show full text]
  • 25 Years Freedom in Bulgaria
    25 YEARS FREEDOM IN BULGARIA CIVIC EDUCATION | TRANSITION | BERLIN WALL | PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA | FREEDOM | 1989 | INTERPRETATIONS | OPEN LESSONS | MYTHS | LEGENDS | TOTALITARIAN PAST | DESTALINIZATION | BELENE CAMPS | GEORGI MARKOV | FUTURE | CITIZENS | EAST | WEST | SECURITY SERVICE | ECOGLASNOST | CIVIL DUTY AWARD | ANNIVERSARY | COMMUNISM | CAPITALISM | ARCHIVES | REMEMBRANCE| DISSIDENTS | ZHELYO ZHELEV | RADIO FREE EUROPE | VISEGRAD FOUR | HISTORY| POLITICAL STANDARTS | RULE OF LAW | FREE MEDIA | NOSTALGIA | REGIME| MEMORIES | RATIONALIZATION | HUMAN RIGHTS | HOPE | NOW AND THEN | DISCUSSING | VISUAL EVIDENCES | REPRESSIONS | HERITAGE | INTELLECTUAL ELITE | IRON CURTAIN | CENCORSHIP | GENERATIONS | LESSONS | TRANSFORMATION | TODOR ZHIVKOV | COLD WAR | INSTITUTIONS | BEGINNING | INFORMATION | RECONCILIATION | FACTS | EXPERIENCES | CONSENSUS | DISTORTIONS | MARKET ECONOMY | REFORM | UNEMPLOYMENT | THE BIG EXCURSION | IDEOLOGY | PUBLIC OPINION | NATIONAL INITIATIVE | TRUTH | ELECTIONS years ee B 25 years free Bulgaria is a civic initiative under the auspices of the President of Bulgaria, organized by Sofia Platform Fr ulgaria years CONTENT ee B Fr ulgaria CIVIC EDUCATION | TRANSITION | BERLIN WALL | PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA | FREEDOM | 1989 | INTERPRETATIONS | OPEN LESSONS | MYTHS | LEGENDS | TOTALITARIAN PAST | 1. 25 Years Freedom in Bulgaria 02 DESTALINIZATION | BELENE CAMPS | GEORGI MARKOV | FUTURE | CITIZENS | EAST | WEST | SECURITY 2. Remembrance and Culture 04 SERVICE | ECOGLASNOST | CIVIL DUTY AWARD
    [Show full text]
  • Bulgaria by Maria Spirova
    Bulgaria by Maria Spirova Capital: Sofia Population: 7.3 million GNI/capita, PPP: US$15,450 Source: The data above are drawn from the World Bank’sWorld Development Indicators 2014. Nations in Transit Ratings and Averaged Scores 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Electoral Process 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 2.00 2.00 2.25 Civil Society 2.75 2.75 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.25 Independent Media 3.50 3.25 3.50 3.50 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 4.00 4.00 National Democratic Governance 3.50 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.25 3.25 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.75 Local Democratic Governance 3.50 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 Judicial Framework and Independence 3.25 3.00 2.75 2.75 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.25 3.25 3.25 Corruption 4.00 3.75 3.75 3.50 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.25 Democracy Score 3.18 2.93 2.89 2.86 3.04 3.04 3.07 3.14 3.18 3.25 NOTE: The ratings reflect the consensus of Freedom House, its academic advisers, and the author(s) of this report. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s). The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 7 the lowest.
    [Show full text]
  • Psychological Aspects of Civic Protests in Bulgaria
    Psychological Thought psyct.psychopen.eu | 2193-7281 Theoretical Analyses Psychological Aspects of Civic Protests in Bulgaria Petya Stoyanova Pachkova* a [a] Department of Philosophical and Political Sciences, South-West University “Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Abstract The article analyzes some aspects of the role of the political psychology in the sphere of civil society. Civic activism requires adequate psychological motivation and qualities of the participants and leaders of civic events. Their absence is a factor for ineffectiveness of different types of civic activities, including the protest activity. Keywords: psychological motivation, psychological manipulation, protest Psychological Thought, 2016, Vol. 9(2), 129–136, doi:10.5964/psyct.v9i2.189 Received: 2016-04-27. Accepted: 2016-09-02. Published (VoR): 2016-10-28. Handling Editor: Irina Roncaglia, The National Autistic Society (NAS) - Sybil Elgar, London, United Kingdom *Corresponding author at: South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, 66, Ivan Mihailov Str., 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. E-mail: [email protected] This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Introduction The article was written on the base of analysis of a lot of public protests in Bulgaria during the transition period since 1989. Dozens (76) of participants in them were interviewed with the method “unstandardized interview” (more information about these protests and the interviewed participants in them can be found in Pachkova, 2015). The author participated in more than 20 protests and conducted included surveillance during her participation.
    [Show full text]