THE INFLUENCE OF BULGARIA’S POLITICAL ELITES ON THE POLICY OF HISTORIAL MEMORY FORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POST-COMMUNIST TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY

Abstract

The article examines the relevance of historical memory research as a key factor in the formation of national identity and an instrument of state policy. At the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular Bulgaria, faced the need to develop a balanced historical policy amid transformational processes. This study aims to identify and summarise the main political practices that shaped social consciousness in the post-communist period.
The article analyses the influence of political elites on the formation of historical memory policy in Bulgaria in the context of the post-communist transformation of society. The goal is to identify and generalise the main dimensions of memory policy and political practices, and to determine their influence on the formation of historical consciousness and the national idea in the context of post-socialist changes. Special attention is paid to comparing Bulgaria’s experience with Ukrainian realities, which is relevant in the context of modern hybrid warfare and the fight against historical myths.
The study is based on the analysis of historical, political, and social aspects of memory policy-making. Approaches are used that allow studying commemorative strategies, in particular regarding decommunization, revising the content of textbooks, and constructing a new national pantheon of heroes. The analysis includes the study of legislative initiatives (such as laws on the criminal nature of the communist regime and the decommunization of science), the activities of institutions (such as the Commission for the Opening of Documents and the Institute of National Remembrance), and public discussions.
The influence of external factors, such as Russian information propaganda, is also taken into account. The study uses a comparative approach, comparing the Bulgarian experience with Ukrainian realities.
For the first time, the influence of political elites on the politics of memory in Bulgaria after the fall of the communist regime was systematically analysed, focusing on the mechanisms and practices of decommunization, the revision of historical narratives, and the formation of a new national identity. It has been proven that these processes were not always straightforward, as society showed an ambiguous attitude towards the communist past, combining its criticism with a certain nostalgia for the past. It is studied how the politics of memory is used as a tool to ensure social unity and counter external threats. The role of historical myths in the formation of the «image of the enemy» and the manipulation of public opinion is revealed.
An effective public policy of memory is an important tool for ensuring social unity and consolidation, contributing to the formation of a Bulgarian-centric national identity. Although the process of decommunization in Bulgaria was slow, it included important legislative steps, such as the recognition of the criminal nature of the communist regime. Political elites oriented towards European values played a key role in abandoning the socialist past and regaining power. At the same time, the existence of a pro-Russian political bloc indicates the use of historical memory to destabilise the country. The experience of Bulgaria shows that the revision of textbooks, the creation of a pantheon of heroes, and the fight against historical myths are key elements in the formation of a new historical consciousness.