As 2025 is coming to a close, IGA takes stock of the major tendencies in how the Bulgarian public thought about domestic and international politics at the start of the year.
The latest IGA report, Shifting Strategic Perceptions and Authoritarian-State Proclivities of Youth amid Continuous East-West Ambivalence, presents major analytical patterns identified in a sociological survey conducted by GLOBSEC in early 2025.
Key findings:
- Support for EU and NATO membership remains consistently high, accompanied by a growing public backing for increased defense spending.
- Despite this Western alignment, skepticism toward continued military aid to Ukraine persists, rooted in economic concerns and lingering pro-Russian sympathies.
- Perceptions of threat from Russia and China remain low, with strong narratives of “Slavic brotherhood” and optimism about economic cooperation shaping public attitudes.
- The young generation (18–24) displays the least awareness of authoritarian threats, showing favorable views of both Moscow and Beijing.
- Regional shifts are notable: previously pro-Western Northeastern Bulgaria now shows rising support for Russia, linked to mobilization by pro-Russian parties.
- While trust in democracy remains strong in principle, many Bulgarians express doubts about its practice, believing that “hidden elites rule the world.”
- Television and social media remain dominant news sources, yet trust in mainstream media is low (64%), and almost 90% of respondents believe more should be done to combat disinformation.