Bulgaria's National Roundtable Talks and the Politics of Accommodation

Abstract

The dominant paradigm predicts that the creation of a democratic polity must be sown in the fertile ground of a strong economy, a large middle class with a supportive civic culture and a competitive party structure. However, in Bulgaria the necessary conditions for democracy were not present. This article applies the micro-political approach of Giuseppe Di Palma to the Roundable talks held in 1990. A fundamental agreement was forged there that guarantees a continuing role for reform elements within Bulgaria's Communist Party and the creation of democratic institutions. Although fragile, these institutions are shaping the manner and nature of political discourse and leading civil society to a stable and vigorous existence.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bell, J.D. (1990). "'Post Communist' Bulgaria." Current History, 89 (December): 417-420, 427-429.

Bova, R. (1991). "Political Dynamics of the Post-Communist Transition: A Comparative Perspective." World Politics, 44 (October): 113-138.

Boyadjiev, V. (1990). "Socio-Economic Platform of the Bulgarian Opposition ." Peace Research, 22 (August): 45-51.

Crampton, R.J. (1987). A Short History of Modern Bulgaria. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dahl, R.A. (1971). Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Di Palma, G. (1990). To Craft Democracies: An Essay on Democratic Transitions . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Drumeva, E.A. (1991). "A New and Original Election System in Bulgaria ." Paper presented at the Bulgarian/American Law Days Conference, held 26 May-3 June, 1991, at Varna, Bulgaria.

Elster, J. (1993). "Constitution-Making in Eastern Europe: Rebuilding the Boat in the Open Sea." Public Administration, 71 (Spring/Summer): 169-218.

FBIS-EEU = Foreign Broadcast Information Service, East Europe.

10.

Huntington, S.P. (1968). Political Order in Changing Societies. New Haven: Yale University Press.

11.

Kolarova, R. and D. Dimitrov (1991). "Round Table Talks in Bulgaria." ( Center for Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe, University of Chicago Law School).

12.

Kurian, G.T. (1991). The New Book of World Rankings, (3d ed.) New York: Facts on File.

13.

Lukanov, A. (1993). Member of Parliament, Bulgaria (14 October). Interview at Parliament, Sofia, Bulgaria.

14.

Melone, A.P. and C. Hays (1992). "The Bulgarian Constitution and the Role of Judges in a Post-Communist State." Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago.

15.

Melone, A.P. and C. Hays (1994). "The Judicial Role in Bulgaria's Struggle for Human Rights." Judicature, 77 (March-April): 248-253.

16.

O'Donnell, G. , P.C. Schmitter and L. Whitehead , (eds.) ( 1986). Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Prospects for Democracy . Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

17.

Pridham, G. (ed.) (1990). Securing Democracy: Political Parties and Democratic Consolidation in Southern Europe . London and New York: Routledge.

18.

Pundeff, M.V. (1993). Bulgaria in American Perspective: Political and Cultural Issues. Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press.

19.

Szablowski, G.J. and H.-U. Derlien (1993). "East European Transitions, Elites, Bureaucracies, and the European Community." Governance, 6 (July): 304-324.