Religion and Forced Displacement in Modern Bulgaria

Abstract

The modern Bulgarian state has encountered a series of forced displacement acts, as either the receiving state or the state of origin. As a rule, they were triggered by outbursts of nationalism, military campaigns, border changes and population exchanges. Meanwhile, the role of religion was not constant: a key factor in the pre-communist acts of forced migration, religion was suppressed under communism (1944-1989). The collapse of this regime returned religion in the public arena, and the recent refugee crisis revealed the renewed potential of religious authorities to influence the attitudes of Bulgarians towards the newcomers.