The Politics of Folklore in Bulgaria

Abstract

Government-sponsored folklore in Bulgaria is a rich arena for the examination of the interplay between tradition and innovation in a highly politicized setting. With its strong ties to the past and its potential for manipulating the national consciousness, folklore has indeed served to promote nationalism, socialism and ethnic unity. This paper examines folk festivals, ensembles, folk music schools, and folklore research in terms of a cultural policy of selected preservation and directed innovation.