Changing representations of national and proto-national identities: A case study of the Bulgarian nationalist discourse

This thesis analyses the evolution of the Bulgarian national identity within the Bulgarian nationalist discourse, a bulk of 18th and 19th century literature that is often regarded as a coherent body that primarly displays the contemporary political myths that are dominant in the nationalist paradigm. By analysing this bulk of literature and by comparing different writings from different periods, this thesis tries to move beyond the nationalist paradigm and focuses on the evolution from the hybdrid atmosphere of 'Ottoman Bulgaria' towards the outspoken sealed of identity of the 'ancient' ethnic-national category of the Bulgarians, so outspokenly supported by the current political order. The comparative and chronological analysis of the main Bulgarian nationalist sources, are supported by three theories concerning nationalism that are applicable in the Southeastern European context. These theories consist of the periodization-theory of Miroslav Hroch, the thoughts of Benedict Anderson...Show moreThis thesis analyses the evolution of the Bulgarian national identity within the Bulgarian nationalist discourse, a bulk of 18th and 19th century literature that is often regarded as a coherent body that primarly displays the contemporary political myths that are dominant in the nationalist paradigm. By analysing this bulk of literature and by comparing different writings from different periods, this thesis tries to move beyond the nationalist paradigm and focuses on the evolution from the hybdrid atmosphere of 'Ottoman Bulgaria' towards the outspoken sealed of identity of the 'ancient' ethnic-national category of the Bulgarians, so outspokenly supported by the current political order. The comparative and chronological analysis of the main Bulgarian nationalist sources, are supported by three theories concerning nationalism that are applicable in the Southeastern European context. These theories consist of the periodization-theory of Miroslav Hroch, the thoughts of Benedict Anderson who underlines the influence of the erosion of religion and the assumed political relevance of ethnicity as assumed by Azar Gat.Show less

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Changing representations of national and proto-national identities: A case study of the Bulgarian nationalist discourse