Bulgarian National Identity
National
Identity is a concept that is made up of various aspects and elements. Some of
these elements can include things such as: religion, language, ethnicity, and
culture, among others. Often times, nations will adopt these aspects, due to
external influence of the region they are in. Each nation around the world will
have a unique National Identity. Some nations may have similar identities, with
similar languages and cultures. However, they will still retain a unique
identity that no one else can claim. This is what sets nations apart from one
another, and makes each nation unique and different. This idea of Identity can
also represent “nations” that are a part of another. An example could include
Catalonia or Kurdistan, both groups have unique cultural and linguistic traits.
These traits are what set them apart from others in their home countries, and
build on the idea of national identities.
Bulgaria
has a strong identity among other Balkan nations, as well as all of Europe. Its
position in Europe is often called a crossroads of culture, due to its
positions between Turkey, and the rest of Europe. “Strategically, Bulgaria will
occupy a vital decision” (Crampton, 2007).
The territory that now makes up the nation, changed hands countless
times trough out the history of the nation. The people of this nation would
find themselves under foreign occupation for hundreds of years. However, the national Identity of Bulgaria
has not disappeared. The people were able to forge their own unique national
identity, different from all other nations around their borders. Religion,
Language, Culture, and a strong desire of Independence are the elements that
fueled the Bulgarian National Identity.
A major aspect of the National Identity, is the
Bulgarian language. This language belongs to the South Slavic language branch,
and is the official language of Bulgaria. One major aspect that has influenced
other nations greatly, is Bulgaria’s creation of the Cyrillic script, which
would go into be implemented into many other languages. This script would go to
be the major script of many different Slavic languages, such as Russian and
Ukrainian. The Bulgarian language is Important to the nation’s identity, if not
for the common language “Two people will struggle to find anything in common if
they can't exchange information easily” (Washington Post).
Another
major point of Bulgarian National Identity, is Orthodox Christianity. Bulgaria
was one of the first nations in the Balkans to adopt Orthodoxy as the national
religion. Though there is a separation between church and state in Bulgaria,
Orthodoxy influences various aspects of Bulgarian life. From festivals, music,
stories, and poetry, Bulgarians can thank the Orthodox church of its influence.
Large churches and Cathedrals dot the landscape and cities, often filled with
worshippers of all ages. However, this
has led to strife with other groups in Bulgaria. A significant Turkish
population can be found in Bulgaria, a left-over effect of Ottoman rule. Religious
strife has occurred in the past between Turkish Muslims, and Bulgarian Orthodox
Christians. However, most Bulgarians and Turks live peacefully, without
fighting.
Bulgarian
resilience and desire for independence has been a major driving force for the national
identity of this nation. The Bulgarian sense of This fueled the independence
movement during Ottoman rule of Bulgaria. Its unique Slavic culture set it
apart from other Ottoman lands,
and led to many conflicts
in the past. This would lead to its independence in 1878, with the help of the
Russians. The independence of Bulgaria has been a point of pride and national
identity, as they were able to break free from the Ottoman yolk. The victory
over the Turks would be celebrated as an important time in Bulgarian History. A
similar instance can be seen with Bulgaria ‘s departure from the Warsaw Pact in
1984. Bulgaria was able to free itself from foreign control and influence in
the past, which is a source of pride for many Bulgarians
While
there are no territorial disputes today that Bulgaria has with another nation,
this was a different story in the past. Bulgaria, at one point, claimed the
majority of Macedonia, the northern area of Greece, the coast of Romania, and
parts of European Turkish territory. These past claims where a result of being
surrounded by rival nations, and wanting to regain the Bulgarian minority
populations in those regions. This would lead Bulgaria to join the Central
Powers in the First World War, and the Axis powers in the Second World War. Though
these disputes are no longer valid, it leads to tensions in the Balkans. Luckily,
these tensions are frar from breaking inti violence.
An
issue that has become more important in recent years, is Bulgaria’s
relationship with Turkey. The two nations share a land border, one that is
heavily guarded by both sides. There are many reasons for this security, a
major issue is the current Migrant crisis. Many migrants travel through Turkey,
and into Bulgaria. This leads back to Bulgaria’s position as a crossroads, as
many migrants travel through the nations to get too other European Countries
This border disruption has led to slight tension between the two nations,
though not enough to cause a
conflict between the two.
It has, however, sparked fierce debate on what is to be done on the issue.
Bulgaria
is land rich in its National Identity. With its conurbations to language,
adoption of Christianity, and resilient attitude towards independence, Bulgaria
forged its own unique culture in the Balkans. The country was able to carve out
a unique cultural identity in the region, and was able to preserve this unique
identity.
Taylor, A. (2017,
February 1). How do people define their national identity? By speaking
the
language, study says. Retrieved January 30, 2018, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/01/when-it-comes-to-national-identity-language-trumps-religion-culture-and-place-of-birth-study-finds/?utm_term=.56976328d2ba
Crampton, R. (2007).
Bulgaria. New York, NY : Oxford University Press.
Bulgaria Country Profile.
(2017, November 20). Retrieved January 25, 2018, from
World Factbook-Bulgaria.
(18, January 17). Retrieved January 25, 2018,
from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/bu.html
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