Economic Development and Positioning of Ethnic Political Parties: Comparing Post-Communist Bulgaria and

Stein Rokkan's theory is frequently used to explain how the economic development can influence the position of an ethnic party in the national political balance: it explains the political representation of minorities as a process of accommodation. An ethnic minority is supposed to stand up against the homogenising policy of national authorities. A specific party is then created which can negotiate with wider political forces supported by the main population. Such a collaboration prevents a conflict from degenerating into civil war. Does such a theory offer a good basis for comparing different countries? The answer is negative when one considers the situation of Bulgaria and Romania. To compare these two cases, one pay attention to a factor which is neglected by Rokkan, namely the respective economic situations of the “homeland ” of the ethnic minority and the country it lives in. These situations direct the balance between inward-looking and outward-looking factions within the party which represent an ethnic minority. Hence, it makes the negotiations with the big governing parties more or less easy to manage