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Abstract. After the radical political changes of 1989, new possibilities for the development of political science appeared in Bulgaria. The discipline went through its own transitional periods. The first was the legitimisation of political science and its institutionalisation in the major academic institutions. The second, which remains at an early stage, is the establishment of a community of scholars and university staff with the necessary theoretical knowledge and resources for assuring its development. Of the major challenges which political science is facing today, one is the need to ensure the expansion of the community of scholars who are sufficiently familiar with recent developments in the discipline. Another is the need to overcome the politicisation of the discipline which was typical of many social scientists (and especially political scientists) at the beginning of the period of change. To an increasing extent, political science is not merely a product of democracy but also one of the major scientific resources for achieving its consolidation.

After the radical political changes of 1989, new possibilities for the development of political science appeared in Bulgaria. The discipline went through its own transitional periods. The first was the legitimisation of political science and its institutionalisation in the major academic institutions. The second, which remains at an early stage, is the establishment of a community of scholars and university staff with the necessary theoretical knowledge and resources for assuring its development. Of the major challenges which political science is facing today, one is the need to ensure the expansion of the community of scholars who are sufficiently familiar with recent developments in the discipline. Another is the need to overcome the politicisation of the discipline which was typical of many social scientists (and especially political scientists) at the beginning of the period of change. To an increasing extent, political science is not merely a product of democracy but also one of the major scientific resources for achieving its consolidation. (European Journal of Political Research / FUB)

In the Bulgarian party system since the first free elections of 1990 the coalition of formations opposed to communism - the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) - was held together by the continuing strength of its opponent, the post-communist Socialist Party, yielding a case of delayed differentiation which sets Bulgaria off from the east-central European countries to its north. The elections of 1994 and their sequel saw the beginning of the end of the UDF's cohesion, but at the same time marked its consolidation as a party. Meanwhile the ideological transformation of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the ascendancy of a new generation of young, pragmatically orientated politicians entrenched the post-communist party in the evolving party system. In the political space between these two poles, a place seems assured for the party of the Turkish minority, whilst a centre-right coalition of the historical Democratic Party with the Agrarians emerged from the elections better placed than its closest rival, centre-left centre-left Democratic Alternative for teh Republic.

Analyzes the evolution of the Bulgarian party system through three postcommunist parliamentary & a 1992 presidential election. The hope that the elections would help overcome the political instability resulting from the conflicting relations between the main parties was realized. The 75% turnout alleviated predictions of voter apathy & demonstrated acceptance of the democratic process. Rejection of extremist parties was a further indication of stability. The 1994 elections marked the decline of the cohesion of the Union of Democratic Forces as well as its consolidation as a party. The ideological transformation of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), coupled with the rise of new young, pragmatic politics, legitimized the BSP in the postcommunist party system. The beginnings of a consolidation of other major parties was also evident, & it seems there will be room for more alternative parties, eg, the Turkish minority party. 2 Tables, 2 References. J. Lindroth

"Der Beitrag analysiert die Merkmale des Übergangs zur demokratischen Regierungsform in Bulgarien nach dem Sturz des kommunistischen Regimes im November 1989. Der Autor zeigt die Spezifika und die Etappen des bulgarischen Weges zur Demokratie auf, die mit der allmählichen Verdrängung der kommunistischen Nomenklatura aus der Macht auf dem Wege von Wahlen, bei Wahrung der demokratischen Prozeduren, verbunden sind. Die Erhaltung des sozialen Friedens beim Übergang zur parlamentarischen Demokratie und zur Marktwirtschaft gilt als eine der wesentlichsten Errungenschaften des Postkommunismus. Nach den Parlamentswahlen vom Oktober 1991 und den Präsidentschaftswahlen im Januar 1992, aus denen die demokratischen Kräfte als Sieger hervorgingen, kann man davon ausgehen, daß die Demokratie in Bulgarien ihre Legitimität erhalten hat." (Autorenreferat)