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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 September 2008
Since the so-called ‘Change’ of 10 November 1989, Bulgarian historiography has been, with its society as a whole, ‘in transition’. That phrase, it should be noted, has acquired what is at best a desultory connotation in the harsh realities of contemporary Bulgaria. Blocked by protracted economic crisis and failed political leadership, the road to reform has been uncertain, its destination obscure. The same situation has held true for practically all of the institutions of Bulgarian life, including the profession of history. Some welcome changes and positive achievements have been so much accompanied by problematic trends as to preclude any definitively favourable prognosis.
1 For the convenience of readers, Bulgarian-language titles of books and articles cited in the text will be rendered in English, with the citation in Bulgarian. Bulgarian-language names of journals will be cited in Bulgarian, with the English equivalent given at first mention.
2 Toncho, Zhechev, Bŭlgarskiiat Velikden ili strastite buŭlgarski (Sofia: Narodna mladezh, 1975).Google Scholar
3 Crampton, R. J., A Short History of Modern Bulgaria (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), 188–9Google Scholar; Bell, John D., The Bulgarian Communist Party from Blagoev to Zhivkov (Stanford: Hoover Institution Press, 1988), 141.Google Scholar
4 For the general situation faced by Bulgarian higher education and learning, see na obrazovanieto i naukata Ministerstvo, Biala kniga za bŭlgarskoto obrazovanie i nauka (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo ‘Sv. Kliment Okhridski’, 1992).
5 ‘Unikalna khudozhestvena poreditsa tŭrsi izdatel’, 168 chasa, 31 Oct.–6 Nov. 1994, 45.
6 ‘The “Clio” Meetings in Primorsko’ (thereafter ‘“Clio’ Meetings’), Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 21, no. 4 (1993), 131–4; see also Gotchev, Atanas, ‘Education and Research in the Social Sciences: Transition Dilemmas in Bulgaria’, East European Politics and Societies, Vol. 7, no. 1 (1993), 43–58CrossRefGoogle Scholar; and Boyadgieva, Petka et al. ,‘Social Change through the Eyes of the Scientist’, paper read at the Thirteenth World Congress of Sociology (Bielefeld, 417–23 Aug. 1994), 8.Google Scholar
7 See the back cover Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 48, nos 1–2 (1992), for an example of the occasional editorial apology for delays in publication (due to ‘financial and organisational difficulties caused by the reorganisation of the publishing system’). See also Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 49, no. 6 (1993).
8 The Academic Press ‘Marin Drinov’, the new name for the press of the Academy, has set its sights high.
9 The law, which was criticised by the Council of Europe and various organisations dealing with human rights, was repealed in February, 1995.
10 168 chasa, 7–13 Nov. 1994, 38.
11 Genchev, Nikolai, ‘Istorikŭt triabva da bŭde nezavisim: Ili e uchen ili e politik: Drug pŭt niama’, Plamŭk, no. 9 (1990), 107–17.Google Scholar
12 Goldfarb, Jeffrey C., After the Fall: The Pursuit of Democracy in Central Europe (New York: Basic Books, 1992) 218–19.Google Scholar
13 ‘Institut po istoriia prez 1989 godina’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 46, no. 7 (1990), 91–4.
14 Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 46, nos 11–12 (1990), 101–4; Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 20, nos 1–2 (1992), 172–4.
15 Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 19, no. 1 (1991), 110–13.
16 Zlatev, Zlatko, ‘Akademik Khristo Khristov’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 48, no. 4 (1992), 116–18.Google Scholar
17 Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 49, no. 6 (1993), 151–2.
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20 Isusov, Mito, ‘Historical Science and Our Times’, Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 19, no. 1 (1991), 3–10.Google Scholar
21 Ibid, 3–10.
22 ‘“Clio” Meetings’.
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30 Angelov, Dimitŭr, Vizantiia: Vŭzkhod i zalez na edna imperiia (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo ‘Sv. Kliment Okhridski’, 1991)Google Scholar; cf. Études balkaniques, Vol. 28, no. 1 (1992), 123.
31 Ivanov, Dimitŭr, Stefan Stambolov: Istorikopublitsistichen ocherk (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo ‘Kliment Okhridski’, 1991).Google Scholar
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34 Both articles appeared in English in Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 21, nos 2–3 (1993). The first was by Evelina Kelbecheva (106–24), the second by Ivan Fichorov (125–49).
35 Grŭncharov, Mikhail, ‘Kum vŭprosa za chorbadzhiistvoto prez XVIII i pŭrvata chervŭrt na XIX vek’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 48, no. 7 (1992), 66–70.Google Scholar
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40 Semkov, Milen, Fashismŭt (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo ‘Kliment Okhridski’, 1989)Google Scholar; Tsvetkov, Plamen, Bolshevizŭm, natsionalsotsializŭm, fashizŭm, 1917–1939 (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo Stopanstvo, 1992).Google Scholar
41 Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 47, no. 3 (1991), 107–11.
42 Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 22, no. 2 (1994), 171–2; ‘70 godini Makedonski nauchen institut – Sofiia (1923–1993)’, Makidonski pregled, Vol. 17, no. 1 (1994), 5–12.
43 See, for example, Stamenov, Mitre, Atentatŭt v Marsiliia: Vlado Chernozemski (zhivot, otdaden na Makedoniia) (Sofia: Izdanie na VMRO-;SMD, 1993)Google Scholar; Kurnicheva, Mencha, Zashto ubikh Todor Panitsa? (Sofia: Izdanie na VMRO-SMD, 1993).Google Scholar
44 Standardt, 14 April 1994, 23.
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46 Standardt, 14 Jan. 1994, 4.
47 Bulgarian Historical Review, Vol. 21, no. 1 (1993), 188–91.
48 To cite an older example, Todorov, Nikolai, Balkanskiiat grad. XV-XIX vek: Sotsialno-ikonomichesko i demografsko razvitie (Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo, 1972).Google Scholar
49 Cf. Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 47, no. 9 (1991), 103–6; and Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 46, no. 6 (1990), 101–5.
50 For a review by Khristov, Khristo, see Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 46, no. 8 (1990), 110–16.Google Scholar
51 Sharova, Krumka, ‘Midkhat Pasha i bŭlgarskoto revolutsionno dvizhenie prez 1872 g.’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 47, no. 7 (1991), 3–19.Google Scholar
52 Cf. her Razprostranenie na Izliama v zapadnobalkanskite zemi pod osmanska vlast (XV-XVIII v.) (Sofia: Izdatelstvo na Bŭlgarskata akademiia na naukite, 1990).
53 Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 49, no. 3 (1993), 106; see also particularly the discussion sections of the proceedings of a seminar held in Sofia in November, 1991. Aspekti na etnokulturnata situatsiia v Bŭlgariia (Sofia: Tsentŭr za izsledvane na demokratsiia and Fondatsiia ‘Fridrikh Nauman’, 1992).
54 Grozdanova, Elena and Andreev, Stefan, ‘Falshifikat li e letopisniiat razkaz na pop Metodi Draginov?’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 49, no. 2 (1993), 146–57Google Scholar; Zheliazkova, Antonina, ‘The Problems of Authenticity of Some Domestic Sources on the Islamization of the Rhodopes, Deeply Rooted in Bulgarian Historiography’, Études balkaniques, Vol. 26 (1990), 105–12.Google Scholar
55 ‘Razhdaneto na srednovekovna Bŭlgariia (Nova interpretatsiia)’, Istoricheski pregled, Vol. 48, nos 1–2 (1992), 3–34; ‘The Bulgarian Apocryphal Chronicle and Bulgarian Ethnic History’, Études balkaniques, Vol. 29, no. 4, 97–109.
56 As one of countless examples, see the high-profile joint interview of Genchev, Nikolai and Pantev, Andrei done by the national newspaper Standardt on Aug. 9, 1994, 22–3.Google Scholar
57 Cf. Davidov, Asen, ‘Posttotalitarniiat intelektualets: Pŭtishta v zdracha’, Filosofska misŭl, Vol. 47, no. 10 (1991), 3–18.Google Scholar
58 For an excellent general discussion, see Maria, Todorova, ‘Nationalism and the Communist Legacy in Eastern Europe’, East European Politics and Societies, Vol. 7, no. 1 (1993), 135–44.Google Scholar
59 168 chasa, 1 Nov. 1993, 39; 13 Dec. 1993, 39.
60 Ritsar ili chŭdovishte: Iz istoricheskite pŭtishta na moderniia natsionalizum (Sofia: Bulevit 2000, 1993).
61 Nie sme tsivilizovan narod (Sofia: Izdatelstvo ‘Sibiia’, 1994); Za da ni ima: Statii za natsionalnata politika (Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo ‘Sv. Kliment Okhridski', 1992).
62 ‘Ne khlebom edinom…’, Literaturen forum, 27 April–3 May 1994, 1.
63 Kosta Tsŭrnushanov citing an alleged newspaper comment by Andrei Pantev (Pirinska Makedoniia dnes, no. 4 [1993], 12–13).
