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Area Handbook for Bulgaria

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Area Handbook for Bulgaria DOCUMENT RESUME ED 109 023 SO 008 452 AUTHOR Keefe, Eugene K.; And Others TITLE Area Handbook for Bulgaria. First'Edition. -American Univ., WashingtOn, D.C. Foreign Area . INSTITUTION . Studies. REPORT NO DA-Pam-550-168 \ PUB DATE 74 NOTE 331p. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, 6.S. Government Printing 'Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (D 101.22:550-168, $5.55) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.716 H.C1.$17.13 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Areatudies; Communications; *Communism; Compar tive Education; Cultural Background; *Devel ping Nations; Economics; *Europeatl History; *Foreign Culture; Foreign Relations; Governmental Structure; Military Organizations; Politics; Social .Structure; Social Systemt'. IDENTIFIERS *Bulgaria ABSTRACT This volume on Bulgaria is one of a series of handbooks prepared by the Foreign Area Studies (FAS) ofthe American Uniyersity for use -by military and other personnel whonee"( a convenient compilation of basic facts about'the social,economic, political, and military institutions and conditions invarious countries. The emphasis is on description of )henation's present society and the kinds of possible or probable changes thatmight be- expeCted in the future. Despite concentration on the current Communist era in Bulgaria, importanthistorical faCtors are referred to as ne'cessary, for more full understandingof,the'contemporary scene. An historical chapter isalso included to provide the proper setting,for the modern state. #n extensive bibliography and a convenient glossary are provided.(Author /ND) CT ,********************************************************************* Documents acquired by ERIC Include many informalunpublished * materials not available from other sources. ERICmakes every effort * * to obtain the best copy available.nevertheless,itemsof marginal * * reproducibility are often encounteredand this affects the quality * * of the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERICmakes available * 4 * via the ERIC Document Veproduction Service (EDRS).EDO" is not * responsible for,the quality of theoriginal document. Reproductions * * supplied. by EMS' are the best that can be madefrom the original. * *********************************************************************** &WELFARE-_ -EDUCATION OR= NATIONALINSTITUTE -1-EOUCATION-g:- --REPRO_ DOCUMENT RECEIVED FROM OUCED:EXACTLYr,ORGANIZATION AS ORIGIN OR THE PERSON OF VIEW OROPINIONS -ATING IT POINTS -REPRE STATED DO NOTNECESSARILYINSTITUTE OF NATIONAL SENT OFFICIALPOSITION ORPOLICY :EDUCATION; AREA HANDBOOK for BULGARIA Coauthors Eugene K. Keefe Violeta D. Baluyut William Giloane Anne K. Long James M. Moore, Jr. Neda A. Walpole Research completed August 1973 First Edition Published 1974 DA Pam 550-168 . 00003' --Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Keefe,Eugene K. Area handbook for Bulgaria. "DA Pam 5501168." "One of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of the Ameri- can University." Bibliography: p.301-316 Supt. of Does. no : D 101 22 550-168 1. Bulgaria. I. Amerksn University, Washington. D.0 Foreign Area Studies II. Title. DR90.K 4 914.977 03'3 74-600028 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents. U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402Price$5.55 00004 FOREWORD ,This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area ,Studies (FAS) of The American University, designed to be useful to Military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institu-; 'dons and practices of various countries. The emphasis is on objcictive, description of the nation's present society and the kinds of possible of probable changes that might be expected in the future. The handbook seeks to present as full and as balanced an integrated exposition as limitations oh space and research time permit. It was compiled from information available in openly published material. An extensivebibli- ography is provided to permit recourse to other published sources for More detailed information. There has been no attempt toexpress any specific point of view or to make policy recommendations. The contents of the handbook represent the work of the authors and FAS and do not represent the official view of the United States government. An effort has been made to make the handbook as comprehensive as possible.. It can be expected, however, that the material, interpreta- tions, and conclusions are subject to modification in the light of new information And developments. Such corrections, additions, and sug- gestions for factual, interpretive, or other change as readers may have will be welcomed for use in future revisions. Comments may be ad- dressed to: The Director Foreign Area Studies The American University 5010 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 00005 PREFACE Although many changes have swept across the Eastern European communist countries, Bulgaria through the years has remained a bastion ofconsistency.It is a loyal military ally of the Soviet Union as a member of the Warsaw Treaty Organization kWarsaw Pact), and its economy- isinextricably linked to the Soviet Union through bilateral agreements as well as through membership in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON). Of the six Eastern European mem- bers of the Warsaw Pact, Bulgaria shares with the GermaniDemOcratic Republic (East Germany) the distinction- of not having contiguous borders with the Soviet Union. It is, however, important geographically because it anchors the southeastern sector of the alliance and borders two member states of the North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationGreece and Turkey. The authors of the Area Handbook for Bulgaria have attempted to describe, comprehensively and objectively, the workings of the eco- nomic, political, social, and military systems dominant in the country in -the early 1970s as those systems have developed in the post-World War H period. Despite the concentration on the communist era, im- portant historiea factors are referred to wherever necessary for under- standing the m dern scene, and a historical chapter is included to provide the prop r setting for the modern state. The spellingf place names conforms to the transliteration system. used by the U iced States Board on deographic Names. The use of abbreviations, acroiiYT-' and foreign terms has been held to a mini- mum. The one abbreviation that necessarily appears throughout the work is BKP for Bulgarian Communist Party (Bulgarska Komunis- ticheska Partiya). All tons are metric unless otherwise skated. A glossary is appended for convenience, but all unfamiliir terms are ex- plained on first use in the text. 00006 COUNTRY SUMMARY 1. COUNTRY: People's Republic of Bulgaria. Proclaimed by the com- munist party in the 1947 Constitution. Formerly, Kingdom of Bulgaria. 2. SIZE AND LOCATION: Area 42,300 square miles. Located in east- ern part of Balkan , Peninsula on Black Sea south of Danube River. Borders Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey. 3. TOPOGRAPHY: Mountains predominate in west and in ranges that run west to east across the central and southern regions. Lower and more level areas south of Danube River and between the mountain ranges= permit_extensive cultivation. 4: CI:IMATE: Transitional between Eastern European continental and Mediterranean. Nathern regions have hot summers, cold winters south is,more,moderate but has hot, dry summers. 5. POPULATION: About 8.7 million in 1973; density 203 persons per square mile. Growth rate 0.7 percent annually. 6. ETHNIC GROUPS AND LANGUAGES: 85 percent of population is Bulgar: Persons of Turkish, Macedonian, Greek, Romanian, and other origins are guaranteed the right to use their languages and to preserve their cultural heritage, but Bulgarian, the official language, is spoken by the entire population. 7. RELIGION: 90 percent of population adheres to the Eastern Ortho- dox faith. There are some 750,000 Moslems, 26,000 Protestants, 32,000 Roman Catholics, and 3,00C to 7,000 Jews. Freedom of religion guar- anteed, but practice strictly controlled by state. 8. GOVERNMENT: National Assembly is unicameral legislature. Council of Ministers, performing governmental administrative func- tions, is responsible to State Council, the supreme executive body. Real power vested in communist party's first secretary, Politbtiro, Secre- tariat, and Central Committee. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: Administration is by people's councils at district (okrug) and township or borough (obshtina) levels. There are twenty-eight districts, including one composed only of metro- politan Sofia. Districts subdivided into about 1,150 townships and boroughs. 10. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (Warsaw Pact); the Counci1-for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON); and the United Nations (UN), including several UN specialized agencies. 00997 - .11. JUSTICE: Three-level court system headed by Supreme Court. Military and special courts responsible directly to Supreme Court. Judi- ciary administered by Ministry of Justice within Council of Ministers. 12. COMMUNICATIONS: Mass media are state owned andregulated. Little latitude given subject matter produced locally; imports of foreign films and publications are restricted. 13. EDUCATION: Free and compulsory until age fifteen. Priority on scientific, technological, and vocational curricula.Narxism-Leninism stressed in all curricula. 14. ECONOMY: Production, growth, and development programmedin five-year plans, drawn up and monitored by party. The 1971-75 plan, dependent on financial and technical
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