Doctoral Dissertation Research: Democratisation and the Production of New Political Geographies in Bulgaria, 1989-1994

小行星9405254 本研究将探讨当代保加利亚新的政治地理的生产，因为该国经历了从国家社会主义的过渡。这些新的政治地理的关键是在不同的地理尺度（国家/地区/地方）上运作的政治机构、行动者和利益之间不断变化的关系。这包括在国家、区域和地方各级治理之间分配政治权力。对于新的保加利亚政治地理来说，同样重要的是在不同的空间尺度上为分配、合法化和利用政治权力而发展的不同机制。 利用民族志研究技术，本研究计划将制定一个详细的案例研究，在布尔加斯obstina（县），保加利亚地方政府的变化。研究方法包括深度访谈、焦点小组、调查研究和档案资料。 这项研究将有助于在东欧的民主化进程的新见解，并将增加在地理和政治科学的方法来民主化的文献。作为博士论文研究改进奖，该项目还将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的独立研究生涯。 ***

9405254 PICKLES This research will investigate the production of new political geographies in contemporary Bulgaria as that nation undergoes its transition from state socialism. Key to these new political geographies are the changing relations between political institutions, actors, and interests operating at different geographic scales (national/regional/local). This includes the distribution of political powers between national, regional, and local levels of governance. Also important for the new Bulgarian political geographies are the different mechanisms which are being developed at different spatial scales for apportioning, legitimizing, and utilizing political power. Utilizing ethnographic research techniques this research program will develop a detailed case study of local government change in Burgas obstina (county), Bulgaria. In-depth interviews, focus groups, survey research, and archival sources will be used in the research. This research will contribute new insights into the democratization process in Eastern Europe and will add to the literature in both geography and political science approaches to democratization. As a doctoral dissertation research improvement award, this project will also provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career. ***