Security and Human Rights: Contradictory or Reconcilable Paradigms? State of Affairs in Bulgaria

This paper explores some recent changes in the structure of Bulgarian society and the corresponding challenges, related to human rights and security in general and in relation to different societal segments. Specifically, lately Bulgaria has been becoming a more and more multicultural country. Due to demographic, economic and other reasons, the number of ethnic Bulgarians is continuously decreasing. Reciprocally, the number of Roma population is increasing. Moreover, Bulgaria is a country recently flooded by refugees and illegal immigrants from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Arab world, etc. Different religious groups, sometimes imported, started pretending more rights and space in Bulgarian realm. The paper pays attention to the evolution of the attitude of Bulgarian citizens with regard to the protection of their human rights and the rights of the others. The sensitive issue of security and safety at the current stage of development is discussed. This study also presents the results from an inquiry of a specialized audience - law students. Their attitude towards the mentioned problems of the day is explored. Respondents' suggestions for more efficient, non-traditional tools for resolving the “hot” issues and securing safety are offered.