ABSTRACT
An alternative approach emphasizes the imperatives of the immediate changes in the region and explores specific political, social and economic/administrative constraints in the process of liberalization and democratization leading toward a free market system. Bulgaria's transitional process of change can be best understood when placed in a political context. The Socialist government failed in its foreign policy as well, losing credibility in its relations with partners and investors both to the West and to the East. A group of divergent state, corporate and private interests involved in the import and re-export of Russian gas even convinced the giant Russian company "Gasprom" to initiate the development of new pipeline projects which excluded Bulgaria. Public-opinion polls and various surveys conducted in Bulgaria during the last seven years have revealed an interesting phenomenon: two distinct types of answers have been received.
