The Intellectuals and the Communist Regime in Bulgaria in the Beginning of the 1960s
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60053/GSU.IF.1.100.292-379Keywords:
Todor Zhivkov, intelligentsia, PR BulgariaAbstract
The 1960s were a decade of contradictions. Western countries followed the new American doctrine of “building bridges” with the Soviet bloc, which stimulated cultural exchanges, but also provoked suspicions about “ideological diversion” among the Communist leadership. The decade was also marked by a strong drive by East European countries towards economic liberalization, which led to a liberalization of the political regimes. In these circumstances, growing demands for creative freedom came from the intelligentsia. The defensive response of the BCP was directly infl uenced from Moscow. Nevertheless, Todor Zhivkov’s policy in the cultural sphere had its own specifi c aspects. It could be described as a mixed approach of “carrots and sticks” – it aimed at seducing the artists, but turned to repression if their actions exceeded the limits set by the Party.
References
Avramov, D. Letopis na edno dramatichno desetiletie. Sofi a, 1994; Baeva, I. Bulgaria i “Prazhkata prolet” 1968. – In: Baeva, I. Bulgaria i Iztochna Evropa. Sofi a, 2001, 124–143; Elenkov, Iv. Kulturniat Front. Sofi a, 2008, 195–217; Kalinova, E. Bulgarskiat variant na suvetskoto “razmraziavane” v kulturata (1953–1963). – In: Bulgaria i Russia prez ХХ vek. Sofi a, 2000, 418–424; Migev,Vl. Bulgarskite pisateli i politicheskiat zhivot v Bulgaria 1944–1970. Sofi a, 2001, 171–275; Prazhkata prolet’68 i Bulgaria. Sofi a, 2005, 51–88, 148–163; Hristova, N. Specifi ka na Bulgarskoto “dissidentstvo”. Sofi a, 2005, 206–252; Spomenut i zabravata. Pisatelite i tyahnata “memoarna” pamet za 1962 godina. – Istoricheski pregled, 2002, No 3–4; Vlast i inteligencia. Bulgarskata 1968 godina. – Ibid., 2000, No 5–6, 205–225.
Kalinova, E. Transformaciite v kulturata. – In: Istoria na bulgarite. Т. 3 – Оt Оsvobozhdenieto (1878) do kraya na Studenata voyna (1989). Sofi a, 2009, 550–596.
Hristova, N. Konfl ikt “vlast-inteligentzia” v Bolgarii. 1956–1957 godii. – In: 1956 god. Rosiisko-bolgarskie nauchnie diskussii. Моskva, 2008, 316–328; Kalinova, E. Intelligentzia I vlast mezhdu dvumia volnami destalinizacii v Bolgarii. 1956–1961 godii. – In: 1956 god..., 329– 356.
Slavov, A. Bulgarskata literatura na razmraziavaneto. Sofi a, 1994, 107–109; Avramov, D. Dialog mezhdu dve izkustva. Sofi a, 1993, 369–370.
Slavov, A. Bulgarskata literatura..., 164–165; Kalinova, E., I. Baeva. Bulgarskite prehodi 1939–2005. Sofi a, 2005, p. 170; Vasilev, M. Dvizhenie i suzriavane po aprilski put. Hronika na literaturnite mnenia i diskusii sled april 1956. Sofi a, 1986, 30–32, 53–54, 60–67.
Centralen Durzhaven Arhiv na Republika Bulgaria (CDA), f. 1-Б, op. 6, а.е. 4113, l. 1–4; а.е. 4528, l. 1.
Levchev, L. Ti si sledvashtiat. Sofi a, 1998, 138–144; Slavov, A. Bulgarskata literatura..., p. 213.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 448, l. 69–70; Hristova, N. Specifi ka na..., 214–215.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 452, l. 77.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 493, l. 52–53; Stanimirova, N. Bulgarski kinorezhisiori. Sofi a, 1984, 48–49, 212–213.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 493, l. 53; Stanimirova, N. Bulgarski kinorezhisiori, p. 102.
Мateriali na ХХІІ kongres na KPSS. Sofi a, 1962, 339–352, 615.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 479, l. 104–108, 261.
Ibid., а.е. 491, l. 1–3.
The question is about the Decree of 10 February 1948 about V. Muradeli’s opera “Velikata druzhba” (“The Great Friendship”). This opera was proclaimed to be an example of “formalism” and composers as Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofi ev, Аram Hatchaturyan were accused to be representatives of “the anti-democratic formalist trend”. – Оb opere “Velikaya druzhba” V. Мuradeli. Моskva, 1953, 24–31.
Romm, М. Chetiire vstrechi s N. S. Khrushchev. – In: Svet I teni “velikovo desyatiletia”. N. S. Khrushchev i evo vremya. Leningrad, 1989, 309–310.
Levchev, L. Ti si sledvashtiat, p. 173, 195.
Тraykova, Е. Bulgarskite literaturni polemiki. Sofi a, 2001, 180–181.
Levchev, L. Ti si sledvashtiat, p. 171.
Avramov, D. Dialog mezhdu..., 371–374; Slavov, A. Bulgarskata literatura..., 114–115; Hristova, N. Specifi ka na..., 230–231.
Stanimirova, N. Bulgarski kinorezhisiori, p. 102, 215.
Da se zapazi za vechni vremena. Informacionen bulletin. (To Be Preserved Forever. Information Bulletin). Sofi a, 2002, p. 93. This department later was transformed into the VI Department of State Security.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 535, l. 15.
Burlackii, F. Khrushchev. (Shtrihi k politicheskomu portretu). – In: Inovo ne dano. Моskva, 1988, p. 435; Solzhenicin, А. Sreshti v Kreml. Iz literaturnia zhivot. – Fakel, 1998, No 6, p. 24.
Romm, М. Chetiire vstrechi..., 311–314.
Solzhenicin, А. Sreshti v Kreml..., p. 38.
CDA, f. 1-Б, op. 5, а.е. 570, l. 3–4, 9–16.
Zhivkov, Т. Izkustvoto, naukata i kulturata v sluzhba na naroda. Rechi, statii i dokladi. Т. 2. Sofi a, 1965, 201–204. а.e. 5575, l. 4.
Yahiel, N. Тodor Zhivkov i lichnata vlast. Spomeni, dokumenti t analizi. Sofi a, 1997, 140–141.
Slavov, A. Bulgarskata literatura..., p. 62. Nevertheless, it is quite possible that Т. Zhivkov made use of his experience, acquired in his struggle against his political opponents during the period 1956–1962.
Levchev, L. Тi si sledvashtiat, p. 172.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Annual of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - Faculty of History (GSU-IF).
