English language cultures in Bulgaria: a linguistic sibling rivalry?

Abstract

In the Bulgarian educational context, a complex matrix of power relations governs English language education. A triangle of international and intercultural relationships has developed. As a result of complex processes of negotiation between Bulgaria, the US, and the UK, distinct English language cultures have evolved. Yet, few studies have systematically investigated language as aid in the changing political and economic milieu of central and eastern Europe of the 1990s. In the face of this void within academic literature, this article addresses the question of how Bulgaria fits into the emerging picture of Core and Periphery English‐speaking countries.