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Background
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.
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Economy
Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 has supported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment.
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Domesticating Revolution: From Socialist Reform to Ambivalent Transition in a Bulgarian Village, by Gerald W. Creed and Gerald Creed -- $26.00
The Balkan Economies c.1800-1914 : Evolution without Development (Cambridge Studies in Modern Economic History), by Michael R. Palairet, Charles Feinstein, Patrick O'Brien, Barry Supple, Peter Temin, and Gianni Toniolo -- $40.00
Creating Parliamentary Government: The Transition to Democracy in Bulgaria (Parliaments and Legislatures Series), by Albert P. Melone -- $24.95
Bulgaria: The Dual Challenge of Transition and Accession (World Bank Country Study), by World Bank -- $35.00
Who Owns the Past?: The Politics of Time in a 'Model' Bulgarian Village (New Directions in Anthropology), by Deema Kaneff -- $59.95
Rebel With a Just Cause: A Political Journey Against the Winds of the 20th Century, by Spas T. Raikin and SPAS RAIKIN -- $70.00
Religion, Politics and Historiography in Bulgaria, by Carsten Riis -- $37.00
Outcast Europe: The Balkans, 1789-1989, from the Ottomans to Milosevic, by Tom Gallagher -- $124.95
A Journey Through the Cold War: A Memoir of Containment and Coexistence, by Raymond Garthoff and Raymond L. Garthoff -- $49.95
An Introduction To Postcommunist Bulgaria: Political, Economic and Social Transformation, by Emile Giatzidis -- $24.95
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