Raymond Detrez

Geo Milev (pseud. van Georgi Milev Kasabov)

September

This third edition covers Bulgarian history through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, an extensive bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced entries on important people, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an access point for students, researchers, and general readers.

Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria

Barbara Segaert

The enlargement of the EU with the Balkan countries has aroused the skepticism of many. Although EU admission is primarily a matter of economic and political concerns, questions of cultural import are readily brought into play: Does the country in question conform sufficiently to «our» standards of a «European identity»? The problematic status of the Balkans in this respect largely consists in their common Byzantine and Ottoman legacies. By focusing on Bulgaria and its neighbours Romania, Greece and Turkey, the authors of this collection attempt to elucidate how mutually incompatible the «cultural identity» of the Ottoman «successor states» and that of Europe are. Ample attention is devoted not only to the perception of the Balkans in the West, but also to the self-image of people in the Balkans and perceptions they hold of the West. If anything like a Balkan identity can be said to exist, what is its relation to the various ethnic, national, religious and linguistic communities? Notably, what was and is the role played by religion in nation state formation? The relationship with Europe forms the thread that runs through the discussion of these issues.

Europe and the Historical Legacies in the Balkans

Few states have fought as hard or as long for establishment as the Republic of Bulgaria. Over the centuries, Bulgarians have created their own principalities, kingdoms, and republics only to have them crushed by stronger entities, such as the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Recently, the communist regime was largely dominated by and overly submissive to the Soviet Union. About 15 years ago, a new republic arose and began revamping the economy, reviving political life, and forging a new place in Europe. The A to Z of Bulgaria contains more than 600 cross-referenced entries on Bulgarian historical periods, places, terms, organizations, events, and personalities. The number of entries dealing with historical figures and events has increased and all of the first edition entries are updated. The newest insights of Bulgarian historiography, as practiced in Bulgaria and abroad, are also reflected. In addition, the book includes a brief introduction to Bulgarian history from the earliest times through 2005 (including the formation of the cabinet); a chronology of Bulgarian history; lists of Bulgarian political parties, administrations, and leaders; and several maps. A comprehensive bibliography facilitates further reading.

Raymond Detrez

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