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It's a US-centric view written by a Bulgarian who is already engulfed in that culture. Bulgarian society is driven by a different set of cultural values and you

It's a US-centric view written by a Bulgarian who is already engulfed in that culture. Bulgarian society is driven by a different set of cultural values and you cannot understand it through the lens of these grand-explanatory mechanisms offered by US think-tanks. Even during communism, ideology in Bulgaria was something few people cared about or believed in. It was about empty slogans in schools and public places, empty-speech by public officials and nothing much more. Private life was a different affair. It was always centered around the family and providing safety for the kids. It is a deeply-embedded instinct for self-preservation since Ottoman times. New forms of social organisation emerged under the official iron fist of the ruling party. People were doing mutual favours within a close relationship. Even now, this is the primary form of organisation in Bulgarian society. Knowing the right people, nurturing close relationships with them, calling them for favours in difficult times, expecting to be called by them at any time.

adriancr 3y ago
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- Vektorceraptor 3y ago
  > That's the base of nepotism/corruption and is a big problem. And this is something I can't understand. Years ago, a newspaper advocated, essentially shortened, 'dissolving family structures because corruption is higher in countries with strong family relationships.' The journalist concluded his article with more or less the words 'Mom, Dad, I'm sorry, but I have to serve the greater good'. And I don't believe that neighborly assistance is the basis for corruption. And I also believe that neighborly assistance is much closer to human nature and offers many more human benefits than a transparent state that is free of corruption. I don't think you should balance the two against each other in such a way, or even indulge in the latter at the expense of the former. wow - this ignore below is my first bad experience on this page. For me it came out of nowhere and I can't even explain it nor take a stance on it. Such a shame :(
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - spaniard89277 3y ago
    Always remember this site is full of western liberals. Just stating your worldview is subject to moderation.
    - Log_out_ 3y ago
      It got toned down though since bad times reality became more apparent and the "global utopia can still be reached" if we write it into existence delusion faded. Nothing to project on aurocracies now..
  - jq-r 3y ago
    I think you've overlooked a quote from what bluetomcat wrote, so pasting it here: > Even now, this is the primary form of organisation in Bulgarian society. Knowing the right people, nurturing close relationships with them, calling them for favours in difficult times, expecting to be called by them at any time. This is more of a general statement than of a "neigbourly assistance". In a sense this applies both to small scale (familes and neighbours), but also it applies to what I call clientelism and a form of corruption. The impact of the latter cannot be overstated as East European countries are drowning in it. My theory is that this usually happens when you have a large goverment apparatus (be it state or local, or usually both) and that implies a big bureacracy. So if you need a permit to say build a house or even say install PV panels, you may have to wait even a year just for that permit alone. But if you know someone who is a friend/colleague of a guy issuing any permits, you might get it in couple of days. Also, good luck if you need a surgery and don't have money for private clinics. But its all good if you know a doctor, you can get taken care of pretty immediately. There doesn't have to be any money or goods involved. Just favors for (maybe even potential) favors. I'll give another example. My dad was a director of a local government owned company in charge for traffic/parking etc. I remember one evening his phone rang and he had a nice chat with some person on the other side. I've asked who she was, and was told that she was a director of a hotel and she wanted to arrange 2 reserved spots near it. And my dad was happy to oblige even though no goods were exchanged. I hope you see where I'm going. I've learned a valuable lesson that day. If you're just a private citizen minding your own business thinking that "the system works", you'll never get in touch with people actually making decisions in these kind of societies. While people nurturing those connections will get what they want and usually you'll be worse for it. So nevermind parking spots or "easy" things like that. What if you need a kidney and you don't really know a doctor? So to put a bit more extremely. How beneficial is for an average Canadian to know a doctor? I would guess not that much. But for a Bulgarian to know a doctor might mean a difference between being alive or dead in some circumstances. While I observe the neibourly assistance with postivity and nobody is arguing that's bad, especially in the time of need, there should be a clear cut that this doesn't take root in public/government organizations as this is a recipe for a society where the tumor of corruption is bigger than the body itself. I think its sometimes hard for someone coming from a country with low levels of corruption to put in a perspective how some of those high level corruption societies work in reality.
Shorel 3y ago
> Bulgarian society is driven by a different set of cultural values and you cannot understand it through the lens of these grand-explanatory mechanisms offered by US think-tanks. I am trying to understand that set of cultural values through the lens of my own eyes. I don't think the influence of US think-tanks is something that matters to me much. Family values are something I understand, as we are not too different in South America.

adriancr 3y ago

Vektorceraptor 3y ago
> That's the base of nepotism/corruption and is a big problem. And this is something I can't understand. Years ago, a newspaper advocated, essentially shortened, 'dissolving family structures because corruption is higher in countries with strong family relationships.' The journalist concluded his article with more or less the words 'Mom, Dad, I'm sorry, but I have to serve the greater good'. And I don't believe that neighborly assistance is the basis for corruption. And I also believe that neighborly assistance is much closer to human nature and offers many more human benefits than a transparent state that is free of corruption. I don't think you should balance the two against each other in such a way, or even indulge in the latter at the expense of the former. wow - this ignore below is my first bad experience on this page. For me it came out of nowhere and I can't even explain it nor take a stance on it. Such a shame :(
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- spaniard89277 3y ago
  Always remember this site is full of western liberals. Just stating your worldview is subject to moderation.
  - Log_out_ 3y ago
    It got toned down though since bad times reality became more apparent and the "global utopia can still be reached" if we write it into existence delusion faded. Nothing to project on aurocracies now..
- jq-r 3y ago
  I think you've overlooked a quote from what bluetomcat wrote, so pasting it here: > Even now, this is the primary form of organisation in Bulgarian society. Knowing the right people, nurturing close relationships with them, calling them for favours in difficult times, expecting to be called by them at any time. This is more of a general statement than of a "neigbourly assistance". In a sense this applies both to small scale (familes and neighbours), but also it applies to what I call clientelism and a form of corruption. The impact of the latter cannot be overstated as East European countries are drowning in it. My theory is that this usually happens when you have a large goverment apparatus (be it state or local, or usually both) and that implies a big bureacracy. So if you need a permit to say build a house or even say install PV panels, you may have to wait even a year just for that permit alone. But if you know someone who is a friend/colleague of a guy issuing any permits, you might get it in couple of days. Also, good luck if you need a surgery and don't have money for private clinics. But its all good if you know a doctor, you can get taken care of pretty immediately. There doesn't have to be any money or goods involved. Just favors for (maybe even potential) favors. I'll give another example. My dad was a director of a local government owned company in charge for traffic/parking etc. I remember one evening his phone rang and he had a nice chat with some person on the other side. I've asked who she was, and was told that she was a director of a hotel and she wanted to arrange 2 reserved spots near it. And my dad was happy to oblige even though no goods were exchanged. I hope you see where I'm going. I've learned a valuable lesson that day. If you're just a private citizen minding your own business thinking that "the system works", you'll never get in touch with people actually making decisions in these kind of societies. While people nurturing those connections will get what they want and usually you'll be worse for it. So nevermind parking spots or "easy" things like that. What if you need a kidney and you don't really know a doctor? So to put a bit more extremely. How beneficial is for an average Canadian to know a doctor? I would guess not that much. But for a Bulgarian to know a doctor might mean a difference between being alive or dead in some circumstances. While I observe the neibourly assistance with postivity and nobody is arguing that's bad, especially in the time of need, there should be a clear cut that this doesn't take root in public/government organizations as this is a recipe for a society where the tumor of corruption is bigger than the body itself. I think its sometimes hard for someone coming from a country with low levels of corruption to put in a perspective how some of those high level corruption societies work in reality.

Shorel 3y ago

> Bulgarian society is driven by a different set of cultural values and you cannot understand it through the lens of these grand-explanatory mechanisms offered by US think-tanks. I am trying to understand that set of cultural values through the lens of my own eyes. I don't think the influence of US think-tanks is something that matters to me much. Family values are something I understand, as we are not too different in South America.