In light of political geography, 1989 forced migration of Bulgarian Turks

Abstract

This study is about the reasons, evolution, impact and outcomes of 1989 forced migration of Bulgarian Turks from Bulgaria to Turkey. By frequently referring to the Bulgarian academic sources, this study analyzes this forced migration which is the biggest ethnic wave of migration that took place in the last quarter of European history, from political, demographic and socio-cultural perspectives. Discussing the humanitarian and moral aspects of this migration and presenting the impact of the migration for Turkey and Bulgaria from the perspective of political geography are among the reasons why this study has been conducted. We hope that this study with its focus on geography of migrations and political geography, will be useful not only geographers but also for political scientists, sociologists, demographers and other related field experts.