Политически изследвания Брой 1-2, 2018

The paper reveals the process of institutionalisation of the Bulgarian Parliament for the period from 1991 to 2018, by examining three dimensions: /1/ the par- ty discipline and cohesion; /2/ the changing structure of parliamentary representatives; /3/ the legislative process. The paper reports the results of a longitudinal study of Bulgarian parliament aimed at identifying factors, drivers and stages of its institutionalisation and democratisation such as changes of rules and regulations, landslide electoral victory of new parties, presidential veto and judicial review.

The paper explores the link between the rise of national-populism and the return of religion to the mainstream of politics. One of the most popular theories explains the rise of populism with a fundamental conservative and religious shift in public attitudes in western countries. The paper tests this hypothesis by an analysis of one of the central themes – the connection between political power and compassion. The main argument is that contemporary populists, as a rule, are indifferent to or even disintegrate the institutional forms of compassion. They most often lower taxes, avoid redistributive policies, do not expand the system of socio-economic rights, and do not strengthen trade unions or NGOs targeting poor people. From this point of view populists use Christianity as a “label” without respecting its doctrinal requirements about compassion. Because of that the new synthesis between religion and politics is very different from traditional forms, as Christian-democracy for instance. Populism relies on the mobilisation of “threatened” majorities: majorities that feel they are loosing social status. Christian identity becomes a marker of the protective stance and closure of these majorities; it is also used as a call for the marginalisation of minorities: migrants, ethnic, sexual and other minorities. The reasons for these processes are at their core political and are not related to deep shifts in fundamental religious attitudes.

The article aims to outline two directions in which in recent decades different political theories search for reasons and possibilities for change of liberal representative democracy. The first of them is connected with the development of the libertarian theories for which democracy ceases to be indispensable requirement to political order, and the second one with development of theories of participatory democracy, trying to expand and deepen the application of democratic principles not only beyond the representative democracy but also beyond the political system, regarding it as a supreme normative ideal. These two types of theories are explored from point of view of their underlying philosophical-political conceptions of freedom and equality. Comparative analysis and critical assessment of some of their premises and conclusions are offered, some predictable results of their conceivable application to the organization of contemporary late modern societies are outlined.

The article analyses the problematic nature of the methodological approach examining populism as an ideology. There is an emphasis on several aspects. Firstly, the lack of a worldview, which would give an ideological value of populism. Secondly, on the insignificance of populism understood as lack of ideas for the development of politics, economics and society. Thirdly on its collaboration with left and right ideologies, as well as on the insubstantiality of the ideological approach, in that it draws some of its intuitions from the paradigm that considers populism as a strategy for political mobilization.

Based on an analysis of semi-structured biographical interviews with participants in the Green Movement, conducted between 2005 and 2015, the article shows a typological portrait of the Bulgarian environmental activist. The main focus of the analysis is the motivation for participation. This is examined in the light of the interaction between the motivation and the political and civic culture of the interviewees, their views on politics, democracy, participation, the meaning of life, as well as their outlook on nature and their surrounding environment. This typology highlights important political and ideological cleavages within the environmental community, and it reveals the diversity and complexity of the tendencies, motivations and values that the environmental movement encompasses. The green citizen is an ambiguous and yet a monolithic persona: He/ She could simultaneously be a Patriot and a Cosmopolite, a Traditionalist and a Pioneer, a Radical and a Reformer, a Leftist and a Rightist, Formal and Informalbut in any case – he/she is an opponent of the status quo, a witness and a participant in the overcoming of the traditional models and oppositions which are characteristic for the 20th century. Additionally, the green citizen is a co-creator of new value syntheses, but also of new oppositions.

The study examines the perception of the election process of representatives of the four main groups of participants – voters, candidates for elective office, campaigners and representatives of election administration. The study consists of sixteen separate face-to-face interviews in the form of series of questions. The study was realized in a non-election environment, as interviews were conducted approximately six months after the local elections in 2015.

The study illustrates and analyses the main problems and political challenges faced by the funded pension pillars in Bulgaria. It is motivated by the specific direction of the pension debate, which resumed in the country and by the recent reform attempts that contravene the multiplier design and complementary balance between the solidarity and funded approaches of meeting the retirement risk. Approaches on which the new pension model was developed after 1999. The main goal of the study is to put under critical analysis and evaluation the development and the leading problems of the funded pension pillars in Bulgaria and to discuss possible reform steps and directions for their future evolution.

Effective democracy depends to a large extent on effective communication. In this regard, comes one of the main, continuous deficits that the European Union is facing. The key to a proper understanding of the essence and way of functioning of the Union is above all to raise citizens' awareness. This is a long educational process that runs through several channels, including political parties, EU institutions, non-governmental organizations, universities, schools. With the White Paper, the European Commission launched a new debate on the future of the EU of 27 Member States. As a key priority, the Commission pointed out the need for active dialogue with citizens. Members of the Commission travelled all over Europe to listen to citizens' views on the various scenarios proposed, thus giving everyone the opportunity to contribute to defining the way forward for the Union.The author of this text has, as its main task, to examine the main shortcomings in the communication of European issues in the context of the current geopolitical challenges. Special emphasis is placed on the need to improve civic education and serious investment in the political literacy of young people. An attempt is also made to assess the results of the Citizens' Dialogue Initiative – in the light of the debates on Brexit and the key European Parliament elections.

The possibility for membership of Norway in the EU is a leading topic for the country’s foreign policy. Moreover, the assessments for potential membership are quite controversial. This leads to the formation of social divisions, which reflect in the political system. The current research aims to investigate the major cleavages formed by the experience of Norway in the field of European integration. These social divisions are not common only in Norway but are well observed in the rest of the member states of the EU. Their existence outlines a tendency, which can lead to significant changes in the EU, especially nowadays when Eurosceptic attitudes are becoming more common in the member-states.

Politics / Political Sciences, Political Theory, Political Sciences

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