Post-socialist European cities face many challenges, such as growing socioeconomic inequality, spatial polarization, and a lack of sustainability. The rise of Roma ghettoized quarters in the cities imperatively imposes comprehensive research on the origin, evolution, and significance of these areas in the urban fabric. These ghettoized neighborhoods deepen the social, economic, and spatial divisions between citizens and significantly influence urban development and policy. Adapting the model developed by Divyani Kohli and coauthors in 2012, this study proposes a modified conceptual framework and index for assessing the spatial segregation of Roma neighborhoods in Bulgaria, using the four Roma settlements in the city of Ruse as a case. It aims to facilitate the elaboration of effective policies for integrated and sustainable urban development. The research utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and the analysis of normative documents, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS), to collect detailed spatiotemporal data on Roma neighborhoods and calculate an index reflecting their urban design. Applying the index to the case of Ruse, the Selemetya neighborhood emerges as the most distinct and segregated Roma neighborhood, while the other three neighborhoods exhibit features of partial segregation. Despite the fact that the level of spatial segregation of Roma neighborhoods can be measured based on various approaches and criteria, the suggested index, despite its shortcomings, can be considered appropriate, although not universal, and therefore, the local specifics of deprived areas should be taken into consideration.

Based on qualitative empirical research conducted within the framework of the project "Digital Divide and Social Inequalities: Levels, Actors, and Interactions," funded by the National Science Fund at the Ministry of Education and Science (contract No. КП-06-ПН55/16, 2021), this article explores the role of digital practices in promoting the social inclusion of Roma youth by expanding their opportunities for participation, mobility, and empowerment. The main objective of the study is to examine how access to and engagement with digital technologies can serve as a resource for overcoming structural inequalities and achieving greater social visibility. The theoretical framework combines the concepts of digital inequality, digital capital, intersectionality, and agency, offering a nuanced perspective on digital engagement within contexts of social vulnerability. Drawing on twenty in-depth interviews with Roma youth aged between 18 and 35, selected through an intersectional approach that considers gender, educational attainment, employment status, and place of residence, the study adopts a thematic analysis focused on subjective experiences, individual strategies, and the social meanings attributed to the digital environment. The findings reveal that digital mobility among young Roma is neither linear, universal, nor homogeneous. Instead, it is fragmented, context-dependent, and varies significantly in terms of intensity, usage patterns, and forms of participation—ranging from limited access and passive use, through adaptive and pragmatic digital practices, to transformative engagement characterized by empowerment and active agency. Based on the empirical data, the article proposes a typology of three main types of digital mobility—limited, adaptive, and transformative—visually represented through a triangular model. Particular attention is paid to young Roma women who do not conform to traditional family roles and instead leverage digital technologies for learning, self-expression, professional development, and social participation. The study concludes that digital mobility can act as a significant driver for building autonomy, resilience, and inclusion among marginalized groups. However, it also emphasizes that persistent barriers such as material deprivation, limited institutional support, and enduring stereotypes continue to inhibit equitable access to digital resources. The article calls for the development of targeted educational and social policies that address these disparities, recognize the internal heterogeneity of Roma youth, and promote sustainable pathways to digital empowerment through expanded access, tailored training programs, mentorship initiatives, and active engagement opportunities.

In the context of increasing challenges to social cohesion and local communities, the role of local festivities is gaining growing significance. They serve not only as a means of cultural expression but also as a mechanism for social stability, especially in the conditions of globalization, urbanization, and rising socio-economic inequalities. This study aims to analyze the role of local festivities as a catalyst for social cohesion in small settlements. In a changing social environment, these events contribute to building a shared identity, strengthening social bonds, and preserving cultural heritage. A mixed-methods approach has been employed, including an analysis of data from in-depth interviews with organizers and participants in local festivities, as well as a nationally representative quantitative survey. The analysis reveals that festivities foster social interaction and cultural exchange while also contributing to the development of social capital in local communities. The results indicate that young people perceive festivities as a platform for socialization, whereas older generations see them as a means of transmitting cultural heritage. Festivities also play a crucial role in economic revitalization by stimulating local businesses and attracting tourists. In rural areas, these events retain a stronger, authentic character, whereas in small towns, they often integrate modernized elements. In addition to their socio-cultural significance, festivities help reduce social isolation and strengthen community spirit, particularly in times of crisis. The study underscores the need for targeted policies to support these events to maximize their positive impact on communities.

The integration of third-country nationals has become one of the key social and economic issues in contemporary Europe. In the context of demographic decline, an ageing population, and structural labour shortages, Bulgaria – until recently predominantly a country of emigration – has gradually transformed into a host destination for migrants. This transformation generates a number of challenges related not only to the labour market, but also to public attitudes, institutional mechanisms, and the cultural boundaries of acceptance.The question of integration thus appears dual in nature: on the one hand, it is driven by the economic necessity to compensate for labour deficits; on the other hand, it is constrained by social distance and collective stereotypes toward the “other.” The present article examines precisely this tension between the pragmatic needs of the economy and the socio-cultural barriers to the integration of third-country nationals in Bulgaria. The analysis is based on empirical data from a survey conducted by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, carried out in 2025 among employers from various economic sectors. In addition, an analysis of in-depth interviews with employers was conducted in order to trace both the actual needs of businesses and the attitudes that shape the social climate of acceptance. Theoretically, the text draws upon the concepts of postmodern society and mobility developed by Bauman (2000, 2007), Beck (2002), and Giddens (1991), as well as on the global migration models proposed by Castles, de Haas, and Miller (2014). It also incorporates Bourdieu’s (1998) perspective on social inequalities and capitals, allowing integration to be understood not as a one-directional process of inclusion, but as a dynamic and mutual adaptation between locals and newcomers. The results reveal an ambivalent picture: employers simultaneously acknowledge the economic necessity of hiring migrants and display a degree of reservation rooted in cultural differences, lack of trust, and administrative obstacles. Economic rationality and social distance appear deeply intertwined – the labour market functions as a space of pragmatic inclusion but not of full social acceptance. Thus, the integration of third-country nationals in Bulgaria emerges as a process of negotiation between need and fear, between openness and the boundaries of social imagination.

The article presents the results of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions held in Sadovo, Elin Pelin, Gabrovo, Bolyartsi, Novi Han and Pozharevo within a project “Local festivals: A resource of local communities for coping with crises”, funded by National Science Fund – Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Bulgaria (KP-06-H45/5 from 30.11.2020). The aim of the text is, based on the main essential features and characteristics of local festivals, to prove and derive empirically the importance of “visible” and “invisible” benefits of these events for the preservation of local communities. The various points of view of representatives of local authorities, organizers of local festivals, and representatives of the Roma ethnic community will be presented without claiming to be exhaustive. Numerous studies are available in the literature, focusing on the benefits of holding these events and the various effects they produce on the cultural, social and economic life of local communities. Local festivals in the Bulgarian context, regardless of their thematic focus, in most cases combine the festivities of traditional society, combined with new forms of collective gatherings. In most cases, these events can also be seen as part of the process of building local identities, which draw their resources from what is imagined, reconstructed and argued as local heritage.

The present text examines local festivals as a form of cultural praxis through which values are embodied, transmitted, and renewed in small settlements in Bulgaria. The festival is interpreted not merely as an event, but as a dynamic cultural practice through which local communities create and experience shared meanings related to identity, solidarity, and resilience. The theoretical framework is based on Bourdieu’s concept of cultural habitus (Bourdieu 1977), Halbwachs’ theory of collective memory (Halbwachs 1992), and contemporary researchers of festivity as a form of poiesis and social mobilization. The festival is viewed as a space of interaction between local government representatives and the spontaneous energy of the community, where traditional and contemporary values intertwine. The empirical analysis draws on data from a nationally representative survey conducted by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under the project “Local Festivals: A Resource of Local Communities for Coping with Crises”, funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund. The data show that festivals encourage interethnic communication, help overcome loneliness, strengthen local identity, and restore social rhythm after crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, they function as a mechanism for preserving cultural memory and intergenerational transmission of values.