Правосознание студентов в Болгарии
Legal Awareness of the Students in Bulgaria

Author(s): Anna Mantarova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Higher Education
Published by: Правни факултет Универзитета у Источном Сарајеву
Keywords: Law, Legal awareness; Civil rights and obligations; The psychological component of legal awareness; The behavioral component of legal awareness; Channels of legal information;
Summary/Abstract: The purpose of the study is to describe the legal awareness of the students as a unity consisting of three components: cognitive (information-cognitive), which includes entire set of legal knowledge, psychological, containing assessments, opinions and psychological attitudes concerning the law and its application, and behavioral, reflection the readiness to adopt a certain (lawful or illegal) line of behavior in situations subject to legal regulation. Empirical data were collected through a survey from among the students of social sciences at the universities of four cities in Bulgaria: the capital-Sofia; the second largest city in the country- Plovdiv; a fairly large city - Ruse; and a relatively small regional center - the city of Haskovo, in which there are branches of three universities. The study showed that awareness of basic legal principles and norms are not particularly high. Students are generally familiar with civil rights and, to a lesser extent, duties. A significant part of the existing laws is assessed as unfair, which negatively affects the attitude to their observance. It turns out that not all widespread practices prohibited by law in the framework of labor relations are met with disapproval. There is a significant proportion of respondents who, in one form or another, are ready to disobey the law. The conclusion is that the implementation of lawful behavior can only be expected if there is awareness of the basic principles and norms of law and a positive attitude towards laws and their observance. However, this is not enough. We need systematic actions related to forming adequate systems of personal values and creating a social environment that stimulates lawful behavior and adequately authorizes the violation of law.

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