Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • The National Discourse of The Bulgarian

    Uploaded by

    Sofia Ivanoff
    8 views21 pages

    Original Title

    The_National_Discourse_of_the_Bulgarian

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    8 views21 pages

    The National Discourse of The Bulgarian

    Uploaded by

    Sofia Ivanoff

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 21
    The Communist Quest for National Legitimacy in Europe, 1918-1989 Edited by Martin Mevius J Routledge xbox MD REVO 6 Contents Reappraising Communism and Nationalism Martin Mevins 1 ‘The First Great Patriotic War: Spanish Communists and Nationalism, 1936-1939 Yosé- Mane! Ni and José M. Paraléo 2s ‘The National Discourse ofthe Bulgarian Communist Party on National Anniversaries and Commemorations (1844-1948) Yannis Sygteloe 49 ation and Empire: Dilemmas of Legitimacy during Stalinism in Poland (1941-1956) Jon C. Behrends 6 Nationalism as a Heavy Mortgage: SED Cadres Actions between Demand and Reality Jan Kiepe 3 The Role of Portugal on the Stage of Imperialism: Communism, "Nationalism and Colonialism (1930-1950) José Neves 108 East German Masie and the Problem of National Identity Laura Silverberg ws Building the Nation, Instrumentalizing Nationalism: Revisit Romanian National-Communism, 1956-1989 Dragos Petrescu as Index 167 ar | | | ‘The National Discourse of the Bulgarian Communist Party on National Anniversaries and Commemorations (1944-1948) Yannis Sygkelos* During the early postwar years (19441948), the newly established communist regimes in Eastern Europe followed the Soviet example, They honoured figures and events from their respective national pasts, and celebrated holidays dedicated to ant-fascst resistance and popular uprisings, which they presented as forerunners of the new, bright and prosperous “demoeratie” era, Hungarian communists celebrated 15 March and commemorated 6 Octobe, both recalling the national struggle for inde Pendence in 1848; they celebrated a martyr cult of fallen communists presented as national heroes, and “nationalized” socialist holidays, such as May Day. Inthe centen- ary of 1848 the linked national with social demands." In te “struggle forthe soul of the nation," Czech communists also extensively celebrated anniversaries and centen- es, especially in 1948, hich saw the 6ORth anniversary of the founding of Prague's Charles University, the 100th anniversaries of the first AllSlav Congress (held in Prague) and the evolution of 1848, the 30th anniversary of the founding ofan inde pendent Czechoslovakia, and the 10th anniversary of the Munich Accords * National holidays related to antifascist resistance movemens were celebrated in Croatia Slovenia, and Macedonia; dates related to the overthrow of fascism, implyin ttanstion tothe new era, were celebrated in Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria, Celebrating the Bulgarian Nation ‘Since the Seventh Congress ofthe Comintern (1935) the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) employed popular front tactics that simed to ait the communist in gaining a hhegemonic role ata national level. This als involved using a systematic, ambitious, and extensive nationalism, During the Secend World War the Bulgarian communist desperate need for alliances within the Faberland Front and forthe mobilization of| Bulgarian partisans led the BCP to downplay communism, sovietization, and inter tionalism. Instead, the Bulgarian communis highlighted national themes ia order not (o “fighten off” the masses For instance, the founding declaration ofthe Fatherland ¥. SYGKELOS Froat (1942) involved two sets of goals: the national liberation of Bulgata from the German yoke and the restoration of democratic liberties and rights. The subject ofthis declaration was Bulgaria ard not the proletariat. Words such as commnisi or social- ism and their derivatives made nota single appearance in te founding declaration of the Fatherland Fron.” As.a result by the uprising of 9 September 1944, when the com- ‘munist-dominated Fatheriend Front seized power, the Bulgarian communists had already incorporated a whe Set of national concepts and notions in thei ideology. During the early post-war years, the Bulgarian communist systematically artic lated a worldview which we might call Marxist nationalism, which identified people, nation, and state with the party, This was an all-embracing discourse that ‘was meant fo consiruct an nage of national unity anda sel-image ofthe communists as the vanguard of their pation. The BCP dowaplayed communis reliance on the Soviet Union and the Red Army, legitimized communist projects of modernization ‘and nationalization, and delegiimized and incriminated the opposition by placing them outside the nation a “rato.” With regard tothe international arena, party ideo logues propagated Bulgaria's affiliation to and close relations with the USSR. In order to relieve criticism that Bulgarian communists were merely Soviet stooges, they attempted to make Soviet Eloe membership wholly compatible with national identity by underlining Slav kinship with Russa, This article aspires to shed light on the national discourse ofthe BCP in respect of the domain of culture and, more especialy, on the topic of anniversaries and come ‘memorations. Within this fel, the communist regime presented Bulgarian history as a linear progression towards the new era and the communists as the helts {0 sreat national traditions and the epresentatives of the best values of the Bulgarian nation. Using anniversaries and commemorations, ceatenaies and millennial celeb tions, the BCP attempted to reinterpret national identity, to ceshape collective memory, and to propaganize communist achievements. Tae national policy ofthe BCP, as articulated during commemorations and anniversaries, can be detected in part instructions, resolutions and directives, goveramental decision, school circulars and newspaper articles, eafets and books. The BCP’s national policy is worth explor- ing. The BCP was a self-proclaimed Marxist institution, a centralized and thoroughly Stainized party, and its aeions were fairly representative of those of other Eastern European parties. What makes the Bulgarian ease specific is that party leader Georgi Dimitov was himsef the architect ofthe popular front and the main developer ofthe so-called “national ine” ofthe Comintern, Additionally, the Bulgarian comn- nists applied this national policy’ to & pro-Slav country with traditionally friendly relations and deep-felt emotions towatds Russia. This in contrast t0 other Baste Europea states which had often been historically opposed to Russia. Allin all this meant that the BCP's national propaganda had a greater chance of success than that of other communist partes. During the Second World War the then clandestine BCP alveady manipalted anniversaries and commemorations. At the time, the communists had confronted the 50 ‘tical appropriation of the past and the selecsive remembering and frgestng by the ruling elites of the time. On Botev! and Levski Days, the Bul Azclared hemselvesthe orginal and exlusive successors of atonal heroic ancestors, ‘such a5 national poet and revolutionary Hristo Botey,anti-Ottoman revolitionary Vasil Levski andthe bandits ofthe Ouoran er, the ads. Tey presented them selves asthe only credible guardians ofthe pantheon of nations heroes and the only political fore tht genuinely celebrated the national pst. The holigay of 3 Match, which celebrated liberation fom Turkey in 1878, ideally Sted communist sutempts wo present Russians ab Bulgaria's ibertors and to dra Hinks between the stand the present® On 24 May, the Day f Cyril and Methodius, Bulgarian comme tists celebrate Slav culture and sfidariy.? Such national commemorations becamcan portant phenomenoa inthe ety pos ‘war (1944-108) publ life of Bulgaria, The Agitation and Propaganda (AgitProp) section ofthe Central Commitee ofthe BCP andthe National Commits ofthe Fatherland Front, often called on the Bulgian people to eeebrate commenortive evens.* They issued directives and circulars in order to mould and supervise these solemn atonal elation. On the occasion of cach national aniversary and commemoration, & cent commit, setup by the Fatherland Fron! bu controlled bythe AeiProp section of the BCP, supervised public events and cowrolled a network ofcomitees cout ‘wide? The role of these committees was o ensure the overwhelming, nationvide Participation of all local communities in he national eleaton, while atthe same time inciting the pateioic emotions ofthe masses." The BCP envisaged each national celebration as a visible, ectve emboiment of offislyprocaimed values, which individuals were to intemalize through patcipaton in cartely organized community celebrations. Upto a week of preparation and political agitation would precede the main celebra- tion. During that pried, arange of conference, lectures literary and cultural evens and ‘commemorative mornings andevenings weuld tak place in neighbourhoods, factories, faculties, schools, dheatres, cultural clubs ard military camps. On these occasions, the rational anthem, anthems of “iendly” counties and suitably patriotic melodies ‘were sung. "! During this perio of agitation end propaganda, the theses ofthe Bulgarian communists would be disseminated among the masses in cities and villages ‘The most significant event on most national holidays was the parade. Parades ‘were an old tradition, which acquited new forms during the period 1944~1948, On Bulgarian national holidays parades were held in Sofia in an area bordered by the church of Alexander Nievski, the “tsar liberator” statue of Russian Tsar Alexander and the parliamentary building in Sofia. National and red Nags were beandished alike.” At some national parades, the amy demonstrated the military might and the pride and alertness of the Bulgarian nation. In thers, students, pupils, youths, teachers and scholars celebrated educatior and promised 1 prosperous future for the nation." Partisans also participated in parado. They recalled the resistance movement 3 tnd the national strategy of the BCP in the Second World War. Working people, peasants, and the “Septembrists” (the communist organization for children) were also present in parades. Shock workers and outstanding students were considered a source of national pride foe Bulgeria, and led the working and educational groups they belonged to during th parade, Representatives of almost all part ofthe nation thus passed before the tribunal of leading figures of the BCP and the Fatherland Front goverament Velerans ofthe so-called saga of the battle of Shipka during the Russo-Turksh war of 1877-1878, where Bulgarian volunteers aided the Russian army, the resistance ‘movement and the Fatherland War (1944/1945) participated in ceremonies on national days, Their presence almed 0 recall the stuggles of the Bulgarian nation against foreign oppression and to link the national liberation movement of the nineteenth century withthe resistancs movement of the Second World War. tn that way, the BCP also attributed a national character to the resistance movement and i own wartime activities, The veterans of te battle of Shipka were honoured on 19 Febniary (te anniversary of Levski s hanging in 1873), 3 May (ihe day of liberation from the ‘Turkish yoke) and 9 September (the day of wansition from capitalism to socialism). Bunting, including Mags, powsits, placards, posters, decorative banners and greenery, was placed inthe public space. The national tricolour was definitely the ‘most prominent one present I was accompanied by fags of domestic politcal and ‘working organizations (eg trade union flags) as wel asthe national fags of “friendly nations” (for instance the flag ofthe Soviet Union.!° The national dimension of public

    You might also like