Distorted Representation and Active Citizenship.Digital Media and Spontaneous Street Demonstrations in Bulgaria (2006-2010)
Distorted Representation and Active Citizenship.Digital Media and Spontaneous Street Demonstrations in Bulgaria (2006-2010)

Summary/Abstract: Abstract. This article elaborates on the question of how ordinary Bulgarians understand participatory democracy, studying a range of street demonstrations organized via digital media during the period 2006 to 2010. It starts with a brief history of spontaneous street demonstrations in Bulgaria, followed by an analysis of the uses of digital technology in this context. The interpretation of data collected through in-depth interviews with activists and protest participants shows that the mainstream media offered a distorted representation of the protest events. Furthermore, the analysis of participants’ discourse reveals mistrust in the political system and a deterioration of the principles of political representation. The deficiency of the system, according to the protesters’ view, can be compensated with stronger acts of participation (court and legal actions, petitions, artistic manifestations, street protests, other forms of contentious actions). In conclusion, spontaneous protest movements from the last years in Bulgaria are considered as an enactment of the changing patterns of political participation.

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