CONNEKT COUNTRY REPORTS. National Approaches to Extremism: Bulgaria - Dzhekova, Rositsa (Centăr za izsledvane na demokracijata, 2020)
This report focuses on Bulgaria’s national structural and contextual approaches and strategies towards radicalisation and violent extremism. The report offers an overview of these phenomena in the country, reviews what the scientific and academic research has produced so far about the particular drivers for radicalisation, and identifies the actors and initiatives deploying Countering/Preventing Violent Extremism (C/PVE) strategies in the country. It assesses the weight of socio-political drivers in current approaches to radicalisation and violent extremism in the country, particularly towards young people. And it also explores how a socially-rooted approach might fit into the current dominant paradigm of P/CVE. Bulgaria has taken important steps to address these issues though the focus is primarily on Islamist radicalisation, despite the fact that far-right extremism is also a significant challenge. Тhere’s a need to develop a more comprehensive understanding and evidence-based knowledge of radicalisation in order to better prevent and counter violent extremism. An effort where the engagement of key non-state actors such as civil society and religious communities should be enhanced