Download - Methods of regional and eu analysis
Ruse University “Angel Kanchev”
Faculty of Business and Management
BRIE – RUSE
MASTER PROGRAM – EUROPEAN STUDIES AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
C O R S E W O R K
M e t h o d s o f R e g i o n a l a n d E U A n a l y s i s
Topic: Ethnic Minorities in Bulgaria
Prepared by: Yordan Petrov, 115771
Ruse
2012
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
Ethnic Minorities in Bulgaria between the two censuses ............................................... 3
Research........................................................................................................................................... 4
Results .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Analyses of the results ............................................................................................................. 13
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction
Every large society contains ethnic minorities. Their style of life, language, culture and
origin can differ from the majority. The minority status is conditioned not only by clearly
numerical relations but also by questions of political power. In some places, subordinate
ethnic groups may constitute a numerical majority, such as e.g. Blacks in South Africa under
apartheid. In addition to the "traditional" (long-time resident) minorities they may be migrant,
indigenous or landless nomadic communities. There is no legal definition of national (ethnic)
minorities in international law. Only in Europe is this exact definition (probably) provided by
the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and by the Recommendation 1201
(1993) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. However, national minority
can be theoretically (not legally) defined as a group of people within a given national state:
which is numerically smaller than the rest of population of the state or a part of the
state;
which is not in a dominant position;
which has culture, language, religion, race etc. distinct from that of the majority of the
population;
whose members have a will to preserve their specificity;
whose members are citizens of the state where they have the status of a minority;
which have a long-term presence on the territory where it has lived.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_group, 2012)
Ethnic Minorities in Bulgaria between the two
censuses
There were two censuses during the 21st century. The first was in 2001 and the second
10 years later in 2011.
In 2001 the population of Bulgaria was 7 928 901 people. Bulgarian ethnicity was
6 655 210, Turkish – 746 664, Roma – 370 908, Russian – 15 595, Armenian – 10 832,
Wallachian – 10 566, Jewish – 1 363.
In this census 24 807 did not stated their ethnicity. 62 108 are the people who do not
identify themselves with any ethnicity. The data from National Statistics Institute shows
quantity of other ethnic minorities which were not a subject of the research.
The census in 2011 was the first that used eCensus (an option for the population to
take part in the census via internet). The population has decreased with 564 331 and with
growth percentage of -7.1 Bulgaria’s population became 7 364 570. Turkish minority became
588 318, Roma – 325 343, Russian – 9 978, Armenian – 6 552, Wallachian – 3 684, Jewish –
1 162.
The growth percentage of -7.1 influenced all ethnic groups. Nevertheless every
minority keeps its position regarding the others. (www.nsi.bg)
Research
The research was conducted between 20th
and 27th
November. 82 respondents took
part in the survey. 43% of the responses were given by male and 57% by female. There is a
difference of 14% regarding this indicator, but for the purpose of the survey this gab is not
relevant and the results should give equal representation of the two genders.
Age of the respondents varies between under 18 years and up to 60 years.
43%
57%
Your gender is?
Male
Female
Majority of the respondents were at age between 19 and 35. Although there was
possible answer age over 60 there were not a single person to mark this option.
Great number of the people who filled this survey has tertiary education.
A conclusion could be made on the basis of above mentioned indicators (age and
education). Because 87% of the respondents are at age between 19 and 35, and 72% of the
respondents are with tertiary education, it could be said that this survey will represent mostly
the point of view of young people who: completed their higher education (bachelor, master or
PhD); at working age.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
up to 18
from 19 to 35
from 36 to 50
from 51 to 60
over 60
Your age is?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Neverbeen inschool
Primaryeducation
Secondaryeducation
UpperSecondaryeducation
Secondaryvocationaleducation
Tertiaryeducation
Highest level of education completed?
On a question which had to determine ethnicity of the respondents. Majority of the
answers disclosed that most (73 of the respondents) of the answers are given by Bulgarians
which do not belong to any ethnic minority group in Bulgaria.
This high percentage (89%) shows that this poll will review opinion of Bulgarians
towards the ethnic minorities on the territory of Bulgaria.
To summarise the profile of the average respondent which took part in this survey is
young (between 19 and 35), well educated, at working age Bulgarian who is not part of any
minority.
Results
The poll had a mission to determine – what is the attitude towards different ethnic
minorities in Bulgaria? Minorities which were subject to this poll were the following:
Turkish minority;
Roma minority;
Armenian minority;
Jewish minority;
Wallachian minority; and
Russian Minority.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Turkish
Roma
Armenian
Jewish
Wallachian
Russian
Other
I am not part of any ethnical minority…
Do you belong to any of the following minority groups?
Turkish minority
Turkish minority in Bulgaria is the biggest one. There is news in Turkish language on
the National television (BNT).
39% of the respondents have neutral attitude towards the Turkish minority living in
Bulgaria. Ten percentages less (29%) have mostly positive attitude and 15% - positive. Only
10% is the number of respondents with mostly negative and 7% with negative attitude.
From his question it could be stated that most of the people have neutral feelings
towards this minority. Turkish minority is associated with mostly positive associations.
Roma minority
Roma minority is the second in terms of population but it’s the fastest growing one.
The results are showing that people are mostly negative attitude towards the Roma minority in
Bulgaria (40%) and 27% are with negative attitude. These numbers give clear picture that
representatives of this minority have bad repute.
21% of the respondents are with neutral attitude and only 7% and 5% respectively
with mostly positive and positive attitude towards this minority.
15%
29%
39%
10% 7%
What is your attitude towards the Turkish minority living in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
Armenian minority
37% of the respondents have neutral attitude towards Armenian minority, 35% have
positive and 26 mostly positive attitude. This minority has really good image in Bulgaria.
Only 1% of the respondents answered that they have mostly negative and also 1% have
negative attitude regarding Armenians who live in Bulgaria.
Jewish minority
Most of the respondents have neutral attitude towards the Jewish minority (49%).
Nevertheless mostly positive (21%) and positive (26%) is the answer of the respondents
regarding this question. On this basis we could summarise that this minority has good image
5% 7%
21%
40%
27%
What is your attitude towards the Roma minority living in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
35%
26%
37%
1% 1%
What is your attitude towards the Armenian minority living
in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
in the society. Also only 2% goes for mostly negative and again 2% for negative attitude
towards Jewish minority in Bulgaria.
Wallachian minority
57% is the percentage of the neutral attitude towards Wallachian minority. 16% have mostly
positive attitude and 18% positive. 5% have mostly negative and 4% negative attitude.
Because of the big percentage of neutral attitude the difference between positive/mostly
positive and negative/mostly negative is not so big. We could say that for this minority we
could not determinate that positive or negative attitude has significant preponderance.
26%
21%
49%
2% 2%
What is your attitude towards the Jewish minority living in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
18%
16%
57%
5% 4%
What is your attitude towards the Wallachian minority living
in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
Russian Minority
Neutral attitude is the most common answer with 40% of all answers. 21% and 31%
goes respectively for mostly positive and positive attitude. Mostly negative attitude has only
7% and negative is with 1%. These percentages give information that Russian minority has
good image in the society.
The next series of questions aims to determinate if the society is tolerant towards all
ethnic minorities and if there are conflicts based ethnicity.
Do you think that in Bulgaria there is tolerance regarding the ethnic minorities?
The results for this question are really close. 40% answered that in Bulgaria there is
mostly tolerance regarding the ethnic minorities and 33% gave an answer mostly no. 15%
answered yes and 12% no. The difference in the percentages is so small that we could not
determinate by the data if there is a tolerance regarding the ethnic minorities in Bulgaria. With
the small lead of the answer mostly yes we could assume that the positive attitude towards
minorities in Bulgaria exists and is the most common one.
31%
21%
40%
7%
1%
What is your attitude towards the Russian minority living in Bulgaria?
Positive
Mostly positive
Neutral
Mostly negative
Negative
Do you consider yourself as tolerant to the ethnic minorities in Bulgaria?
This question is in direct relation with the previous one. After giving evaluation of the
society the respondents are asked to give evaluation about themselves. 57% of the
respondents answered that they are mostly tolerant and 26 % are tolerant. Only 13% self-
evaluated themselves as mostly intolerant people. 4% are the respondents that see themselves
as intolerant.
15%
40%
33%
12%
Do you think that in Bulgaria there is tolerance regarding the ethnic
minorities?
Yes
Mostly yes
Mostly no
No
26%
57%
13%
4%
Do you consider yourself as tolerant to the ethnic minorities in Bulgaria?
Yes
Mostly yes
Mostly no
No
Have you ever witnessed ethnic discrimination?
With a huge difference between the two possible answers 74% state that they have witnessed
an ethnic discrimination. Only 26% gave the negative answer.
Have you participated in a conflict of minority basis?
To determinate the role of the respondents in a conflict on ethnicity this question was put in
the poll. 78% of the respondents did not participate in such conflict and 22% were active and
not only witnesses of such conflict.
74%
26%
Have you ever witnessed ethnic discrimination?
Yes
No
22%
78%
Have you participated in a conflict of minority basis?
Yes
No
Analyses of the results
The data from NSI shows that Bulgaria’s population is rapidly decreasing. Growth
percentage of -7,1 is a big problem for the country.
Different factors like economic, social, etc. make the living in Bulgaria challenging.
A lot of people left the country and their number will grow if the situation stays the same.
Another problem is the aging of the population. The percentage of the people over
working age in comparison with those who are under working age or at working age is
disturbing.
The purpose of the conducted survey was to determinate what are the relations in
Bulgaria and what image different minorities have.
Most of the minorities have neutral image which is not necessary bad thing on the
contrary it could be considered good, because members of these minorities are not labelled by
their ethnic origin but by their own qualities and actions.
Nevertheless these minorities have mostly positive image in Bulgaria and there is no
place to speak about any tension in the society.
The only exception is the Roma minority in Bulgaria. The attitude towards them is
mostly negative. The percentage of people with negative opinion about this minority is also
big.
Currently Roma minority in Bulgaria has a lot of major problems. Some of them are
lack of educated representatives of this minority (the percentage is so small that it is
considered exception to see representative of this minority with graduated higher education),
image of people who are dealing with illegal activities (stealing, traffic of people and drugs,
etc.) and lazy jobless people.
Statistically the mentioned above qualities of this minority are right, but two important
questions arise from this information: 1) What is/are the reason(s) for this problem? and 2)
Why is this problem not solved?
Due to different reasons (like cultural) some minorities need additional help from the
government to help them with the social inclusion. This is not only national policy but also
EU policy and our country as a member of this policy should do its best to resolve this
problem.
The bad image of even one ethnic group and the problems leading to this image have
impact to all members of the society. Also this image is distributed all over the world as
image of Bulgaria not only of certain minority in this country.
There were two questions from the poll which needed to determinate if there are cases
and conflicts on ethnic basis. Most of the respondents were witnesses of ethnic
discrimination, and some of them were even part of conflicts on ethnical basis.
Such problems and conflicts exist even in the most democratic societies but it should
be everybody goal to make such conflicts as rear as possible.
Other two questions had the mission to determinate if our society is tolerant towards
the ethnic minorities as a hole. In the first question the respondents should give an assessment
of the society and the second question gave the opportunity of the respondents of self-
evaluation of their tolerance towards the ethnic minorities.
Both questions led to an image of mostly tolerant society in Bulgaria.
Conclusion
Even though the population of Bulgaria is decreasing the variety of different ethnic
minorities stays unchanged. Decreasing population is serious problem for our society and if
thing continue this way only grim future awaits Bulgaria and its people. For overcoming this
problem there is a need of series of actions made by the government.
Bulgarian society could be described like society which is mostly tolerant toward
societies. We could say that ethnic group is not relevant to Bulgarian society and the only
exception is Roma minority which has a lot of problems that lead to really bad image in the
society. The goal should be to decrease and eventually remove the social exclusion of the
Roma minority. The most important step is to increase their level of education. This is really
difficult task and this process does not happen overnight.
Problems always occur but the ethnic origin should not be a reason for conflicts and
bad attitude. People should not be judgemental to any representative of different ethnic