Welcome to the Largest International Fair of the Balkans: The Borderli-ness of Kara Boaz Fair

• Main Author: S. Antova
• Format: Article
• Language: Bulgarian
• Published: SCS Consulting Ltd. 2015-08-01
• Series: Venec
• Subjects: border; border zones; trans-border economy; identity; Torlaks
• Online Access: http://www.venets.org/getfile.php?id=208

The location of this study is the border area of the North – West Bulgaria at Bulgarian – Serbian border, near the town of Belogradchik. As a result of several times redrawing of nation state borders between Serbia (Yugoslavia) and Bulgaria during 20th century the borderland population, named Torlatsi had been separated. The Kada Boaz Fair creates a safe space and time for meeting of the separated families and friends, living at the both sides of the border. Very significant point is that the place of the Kada Boaz Fair is widely exploited of all local and governmental authorities from both sides since 2000 as a place to re-construct economic and social relations. The aim of the paper is to discuss which are the factors influencing the real openness and the making borders pervious. The paper explores the border crossing of Bulgarian and Serbian population, living at both sides of national borders on an everyday level, while trying to explain its notions in different periods of time (Socialist past, Yugo-embargo, EU accession of Bulgaria). The presentation answers the question how people use the political situations and politicians so that they could benefit from certain circumstances on their everyday level of life.