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This paper examines the interplay of political protests in Bulgaria and their impact on national identity and public services.

May 4, 2026Open Access

Leaving, returning, staying: The complex geopolitics of political transformation

Key Points

This paper examines the interplay of political protests in Bulgaria and their impact on national identity and public services.
Analysis of political protests involving Gen Z students and unemployed youth in Bulgaria.
Exploration of Kapka Kassabova’s writings on emigration and geopolitical landscapes.
Contextual examination of historical geographies related to Bulgarian identity.
Youth protests reflect a growing demand for a redefined national identity in Bulgaria.
Emigration trends indicate a loss of opportunities for young people, influencing their political engagement.
Kassabova's works provide insights into the historical context of Bulgaria's ongoing struggles with identity and belonging.

Abstract

Recent political protests in Bulgaria, led in part by Gen Z students, workers, and unemployed young people, have sharpened popular demand for a rethinking of both public services and national identity. In the face of continued emigration of young people concerned about the nature of opportunities in Bulgaria, the protesters asked, in part, for a renegotiation of Bulgarian identity. In this context, Kapka Kassabovas trilogy of biographical family explorations of the experience of the migr, border lives, and shifting geopolitical landscapes have much to teach us about the interweaving historical geographies of the region. Kassabovas writing both foreshadows and illuminates Bulgarias ongoing struggle about staying, leaving, and renewal.

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