Suchergebnisse

The article analyzes the quality of life of elderly people aged over 55 years in Bulgaria concerning their social inclusion in society; the analysis is based on a representative social survey of people aged 55+ entitled "Study on the Quality of Life of People Aged 55+ in Bulgaria", conducted in 2022 by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. One thousand thirty respondents were surveyed. In the article, the quality of life of elderly people in terms of their social inclusion is studied through objective and subjective indicators. The survey results indisputably show that, by objective indicators of social inclusion of elderly people, the degree of social engagement of people aged 55+ in Bulgaria is not exceptionally high; such engagement consists, above all, of frequent social contact with close relatives, friends and neighbors, and assisting relatives, friends, and neighbors. The levels of social inclusion fall sharply regarding formalized social participation in volunteer activities for various organizations or even attendance at cultural events and interest clubs. However, we find that in terms of subjective assessments, the level of social engagement of elderly people corresponds fully to their needs and expectations for a whole and meaningful life, which thus makes satisfaction with the degree of social inclusion as a subjective indicator of the quality of social life, a factor that links the two levels of quality of life – individual and social. Thus, although objective indicators of social inclusion of elderly people in our country do not always indicate high levels of social engagement, subjective satisfaction with social inclusion points to a quality of life at the social level that fulfills the conditions for social cohesion and integration of elderly people in the life of society.

The thematic focus of this issue of Postmodernism Problems is the dynamics and transformations in the quality of life of social communities in Bulgaria and Romania. The publications in it are the result of the implementation of a joint research project under the inter-academic cooperation between the Bulgarian and Romanian Academies, and more specifically between the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Research Institute for Quality of Life at the Romanian Academy on the topic: "Transformations in the quality of life of social communities in the conditions of globalization: challenges and perspectives (2022 – 2023)". The concept of quality of life has a very high heuristic potential as it affects a wide range of contexts, including social development, politics, employment, and international relations. In this issue of Postmodernism Problems, we tried to present some specificities of Bulgaria and Romania in terms of the state, dynamics, and perspectives of the quality of life in both countries in the aspect of its various objective and subjective indicators. The results show that there are many similarities between the two countries, both historically and culturally, and in the most recent developments of Bulgaria and Romania after 2007 in relation to EU membership. This familiar context has repercussions on social processes related to changes in the quality of life of local communities. The study of transformations in the quality of life of different social communities in the two neighboring countries enriches the research field on the topic and allows for an analysis of what is happening in two related national contexts in the conditions of globalization.

This article presents an analysis of the impact of disasters on the quality of life of local communities. Its empirical basis is collected field material within the framework of a study conducted by the Institute for Еthnology and Folklore Studies with the Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as part of the project "Local Disasters and Quality of Life: Cultural Strategies in Overcoming Natural, Technological and Biological Catastrophes", funded from National Science Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science. The empirical data, on the basis of which the theoretical analysis is carried out, concern two natural disasters that occurred in Bulgaria - the earthquake in Pernik in 2012 and the flood in the Asparuhovo district in 2014. Research results show that the disaster affects, albeit to different degrees and in different ways, all components of the "quality of life" category, changing them at the moment or creating conditions for their later change. It has a powerful impact on the material and economic side of people's lives as the basis of their social well-being, which is entirely in a negative direction. Also negative is the impact of the disaster event on the affected person's physical and mental health, sense of security, tranquility, and mental balance. Unexpectedly, it turns out that disaster can also positively impact people's quality of life. This is most often in terms of their social connectedness and cohesion when the disaster event catalyzes social connections and support. Striving to restore the pre-disaster quality of life leads to social change that reflects the experience of survival through changes in local traditions and everyday life and the creation of new cultural memory and places of memory, thus building a new post-disaster model of social relations, accumulating gained experience and refracting it through the unique situation.

The article is focused on mapping different policies and programs aimed at the elderly population, as well as the incentive for inclusion in these programs. The review of different policies aimed to achieve harmonization and complement the opportunities for the conducting of personal careers, and better quality of life. The consequences of population aging in Bulgarian conditions lead to various changes in the labor market. In this context the policies themselves aim not only to include elderly people in the labor market but also to ensure economic growth, thereby creating the prerequisites for social support and assistance. The overall vision of the article is to provide an overview of the political map in which the various institutional practices stimulate the elderly population to increase their education and qualification as one of the ways of active living. The article uses the results of a representative survey of the 55+ population regarding its participation in various forms of continuing education and qualification. Our understanding is that labor market participation has two important consequences for older people. On the one hand, it is related to the provision of material income and good living conditions, and on the other hand, it has positive consequences affecting the psychological confidence and self-confidence of the elderly that they are useful to society. All this in its entirety shows various aspects related to the quality of life of people in the third age.

This report analyses the role of foundations, funding and/or carrying out research and innovation programs in Bulgaria supporting the development of science and scientific institutions. In particular, we examine the types of foundations; origin of their funds and main sources of funding; their investments in research and innovation; supported key research areas; their role in the sphere of research and innovation. Empirical data in the report were collected through a large-scale survey of EU foundations and NGOs, funding and/or engaged in research and innovation, where ISSK – BAS was the Bulgarian partner. The survey was funded by the European Commission and was carried out in the period 2013-2014 in all EU Member States plus Switzerland and Norway. Coordinator of the research was the Department of Social Sciences at the Free University (VU) in Amsterdam.