'We are Shepherds, But Not Sheep': Farmer Protest and Rural Identity in Bulgaria

TY - JOUR

T1 - 'We are Shepherds, But Not Sheep'

T2 - Farmer Protest and Rural Identity in Bulgaria

AU - O'Brien, Tom

N1 - © 2023 The Author(s).

PY - 2023/12/8

Y1 - 2023/12/8

N2 - Rural society in Bulgaria has seen considerable upheaval over the past century, moving from a position of political significance, rural actors were subsequently subordinated under the communist regime (1946-1989). The post-socialist period saw further turmoil as land restitution, privatisation, and depopulation reshaped rural communities, leading to increased marginalisation. Facing uncertain futures, rural producers have engaged in a range of actions to challenge and resist threats to their material interests and rural way of life. This article draws on a unique dataset of protest events by rural producers over the 2000-2019 period to understand how and why they protest. In doing so, it considers how the claims presented can be seen to reflect efforts to protect rural communities in a time of change. The findings suggest that material interests serve as the key mobilising force but that these rest on a sense of collective identity around the importance of rural society to support their claims.

AB - Rural society in Bulgaria has seen considerable upheaval over the past century, moving from a position of political significance, rural actors were subsequently subordinated under the communist regime (1946-1989). The post-socialist period saw further turmoil as land restitution, privatisation, and depopulation reshaped rural communities, leading to increased marginalisation. Facing uncertain futures, rural producers have engaged in a range of actions to challenge and resist threats to their material interests and rural way of life. This article draws on a unique dataset of protest events by rural producers over the 2000-2019 period to understand how and why they protest. In doing so, it considers how the claims presented can be seen to reflect efforts to protect rural communities in a time of change. The findings suggest that material interests serve as the key mobilising force but that these rest on a sense of collective identity around the importance of rural society to support their claims.

KW - Farmers

KW - Identity

KW - Bulgaria

KW - Protest

KW - Rural

U2 - 10.1080/10371656.2023.2270851

DO - 10.1080/10371656.2023.2270851

M3 - Article

SN - 2204-0536

VL - 32

SP - 185

EP - 200

JO - Rural Society

JF - Rural Society

IS - 3

M1 - 3

ER -