Suchergebnisse

The controversy over bringing back Bulgaria's abolished monarchy reflects in a large measure the prolonged agony the country has been undergoing ever since it launched on a course of painful post-communist reforms. Against the background of a deep economic crisis, mass poverty, the breakdown of law and order, and political chaos that have traumatized the population, the attempts to reinstate the monarchy have failed only because of its low historical legitimacy. While the ex-king's triumph in the June 2001 election initially seemed to improve the chances for bringing back the monarchy, such a restoration has been rendered less likely now by the numerous failures and blunders of his time in office, particularly his inability to rebuild the ailing national state and economy. In spite of some notable foreign policy successes such as Bulgaria's entry into NATO and the European Union, ex—Prime Minister Simeon did not live up to the naïvely overoptimistic expectations of Bulgarians who had hoped that he would save their country from the profound economic, social, political, institutional, and even moral crisis into which it has descended. The precipitous fall of the political fortunes of Simeon, especially as a result of the public relations disaster involving the scandalous "restitution" of his family's properties that turned the ex-monarch into a multimillionaire, does not bode well for the prospect of reintroducing the monarchy. In the eyes of many ordinary Bulgarians, the former king has now turned into a liability and an embarrassing disappointment.

This article examines the origins of the World's first drug wars, which occurred between Britain and China during the beginning days of the industrial Revolution. The author provides a brief historic background, discussing the origins of Anglo-Chinese trade relations, the opium trade, and economic impact on Britain, and China. Then the article delves into the history of both of the Opium Wars; mapping the course of Sino-Western interaction for the next century, as Britain was the superpower of the day; blueprinting the future of Asian trade, creating the colony of Hong Kong, and weakening the Chinese royal house. The article also highlights how Western powers subjugated the Chinese monarchy through the Opium Wars, which still laid in the mind of Mao Zedong during the revolution; and a reminder to the Chinese today of a bitter time, used occasionally as a defensive tactic, in justifying its current policies to the West. References. M. Diem

It is commonly assumed that socio-economic conditions strongly influence political attitudes. Since democratic rule is based on the consent of the ruled, a secure and stable democracy cannot be established and maintained without broad-based popular endorsement, which is especially important for nascent post-communist democracies. Painful economic difficulties may engender deep anti-system sentiments at the mass level, encouraging anti-regime activism at the elite level. From this perspective, democratic legitimacy is a function of regime performance. But the Bulgarian evidence fails to validate the hypothesis that system legitimacy depends on regime effectiveness or that socio-economic conditions determine mass-level political attitudes. In spite of the economic fiasco, Bulgaria's democratic regime remains capable of commanding popular support. While the economic performance deficit of catastrophic proportions has become a source of widespread popular dissatisfaction threatening regime stability, it has not led to democratic backsliding or collapse.

An examination of the social, economic, & political status of the Roma community in postcommunist Bulgaria focuses on their vulnerable position as an oppressed minority. In spite of some measures to protect their ethnic/cultural identity & their right to self-organization, the Roma continue to suffer from public intolerance & government neglect. Their plight is said to reflect the weak democratization of postcommunist Bulgaria, which is slated to become a member of the European Union. An overview of the history & demographics of the Roma in Bulgaria is followed by a description of their attempts to organize politically in order to gain representation. Widespread persecution, discrimination, joblessness, & poverty have resulted in social despair & criminality that has increased acts of racially motivated violence. The "Bulgarian ethnic model" has proved to be grossly inadequate in relation to the Roma. It is concluded that the situation is not likely to improve until the ruling elite & majority population make an effort to build a strong civil society that provides equal rights to all citizens. 2 Tables, 37 References. J. Lindroth