"Скорозрейно" и "нетрайно" ли е българското развитие?
Is Bulgaria's development "Too immature" and "inconsistent"?

Author(s): Hristo Matanov
Subject(s): History, Cultural history, Sociology, Comparative history, Local History / Microhistory, Modern Age, Special Historiographies:, Social development, 19th Century, Period(s) of Nation Building, Historical revisionism
Published by: Издателска къща "Гутенберг"
Keywords: Balkan history; Bulgarian history; Nation building; Country development; Sociology; History
Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses the critically well-known thesis of Prof. Peter Moutafchiev about the raises and falls in Bulgaria's development. We know that, counting the studies of the Russian scholar Alexander Hilferding, Prof. Moutafchiev came to the conclusion that Bulgaria's development was erratic and did not have periods of "peace" - everything featured rapid progress and equally rapid decline and crises. The Bulgarian scholar cited Serbia as an example of slower for more regular progrss. The author attempts to question the general validity of this opinion. First of all, it was dedicated by the historical period in which Prof. Moutafchiev lived and worked. Then Bulgarian history itself was transmitted under the influence of the notion that it consisted of a series of successes and failures. Serbia could hardly be a comparison factor as the main sources about its development are the vitas of its rulers written by their sons and close relatives. Third, there are hardly societies and countries on a European or world scale that have not been subject to the "historical sine" of which Moutafchiev speaks. The author of the article appeals for abandoning the romantic approach in reconstructing the Bulgarian past, which demands rapid events with a fatal outcome. Instead, he offers a narration based on Fernand Braudel's idea of continuity and longue duree.

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