Multiple identities of Russians and Bulgarians: Intercultural comparison

Abstract

It has been revealed that people belonging to various groups ascribe different value and emotional importance to those groups as well as they form many group identities. However, the importance of group identity may also vary on a cultural level. This study aimed to compare group identification of Bulgarians and Russians – two culturally similar groups that chose different developmental paths in the last 30 years. In particular, we examined the relations between five group identities: national, religious, regional, Soviet/Communist, and European. A sample of 233 Russians and 279 Bulgarians underwent an online survey. Scales from the Mutual Intercultural Relations In Plural Societies (MIRIPS) questionnaire and Verkuyten’s religious identity scale were used. The collected data was analyzed using multiple regression and correlation analysis separately for each subsample. Results showed significant differences in the identification of Russians and Bulgarians on five investigated categories. Moreover, the pattern of correlations between the group identities suggested variance in the group identity structure of the two subsamples. Among the Russians national, regional, religious, and Soviet identities were positively interrelated. Among the Bulgarian subsample two core identities were observed: religious and regional. These two identities served as a “bridge” between European and national identification. Finally, the socio-cultural changes were suggested to influence the identity structure in both countries. The striving of Bulgarians to distance from the country’s Communist past might account for the disconnection of Communist identity from the other identity types. In turn, the political disagreements between Europe and Russia might be preventing Russians from cultivating an integral sense of belonging to Europe.