Bulgarian Populist Euroscepticism: The Unavoidable Russian Dimension.

This article analyzes Bulgarian Euroscepticism through a spatial-temporal lens, emphasizing the enduring influence of historical, cultural, and geopolitical ties with Russia on Bulgaria's political landscape. It argues that Bulgarian Euroscepticism cannot be fully understood through conventional typologies but is better situated along a Europe–Russia axis, where pro-Russian sentiment and national-populist parties play a central role. Despite initial post-1989 consensus on EU integration, Euroscepticism in Bulgaria has grown primarily after EU accession, linked to populist parties such as Ataka and Revival, and figures like President Rumen Radev, who express pro-Russian positions. The study highlights how Bulgaria's unique historical-geographical context shapes its Euroscepticism, suggesting this approach may be useful for examining similar phenomena in other national settings influenced by external powers.