The Phenomenon of “Parahistory” in Post-Communist Bulgaria
The Phenomenon of “Parahistory” in Post-Communist Bulgaria

Old Theories and New Myths on Proto-Bulgarians

Author(s): Aleksandar Nikolov
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Social history, Transformation Period (1990 - 2010)
Published by: Central European University Press
Keywords: Post communism; Bulgaria;Myth
Summary/Abstract: This chapter is the result of a long period of research on the “parahistorical”discourse in Bulgaria, particularly that related to Proto-Bulgarian studies, one of the major fields in Bulgarian historiography, loaded with mythological elements, since its emergence in the nineteenth century.In the course of preliminary research, I encountered very similar manifestations in many historiographical and “parahistorical” publications throughout the region. Thus a comparative study of a number of paradigms frequently encountered in this type of publication would enable meto create a framework of interpretation for this phenomenon and would provide an answer to numerous questions. It would also create a typology of the messages propagated by these theories and help identify its intended audience. Moreover, such a study would help to understand the reasons behind the popular success of the “parahistorical” discourse and even its political influence among certain nationalistic organizations and circles.

• Details
• Contents