Konstantinov, K. The media in Bulgaria: a shield or conduit for radicalization among Muslims during the rise of ISIS (2014-2019)
The media in Bulgaria: a shield or conduit for
radicalization among Muslims during the rise of ISIS (2014-2019)
In: Obscured Balkans, vol. 2, 2025.
Author:
Kaloyan Konstantinov, Ph.D. Candidate
Institute of Balkan Studies and Centre of Thracology
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Received: September 16, 2025
Technical Evaluation: September 27, 2025
Editorial Review: September 30, 2025
Peer Review: October 20, 2025
Accepted: November 30, 2025
Published: December 8, 2025
18 pages
English
Konstantinov, K. “The Media in Bulgaria: A Shield Or Conduit For Radicalization Among Muslims During The Rise Of Isis (2014–2019)”, Obscured Balkans 2 (2025), pp. 18–25. DOI https://doi.org/ 10.62761/OB2025.KK,
ISSN 3033-1331..
The media in Bulgaria played a complex role in the context of (lack of) Muslim radicalization during the rise of ISIS (2014-2019). Bulgaria, as a predominantly orthodox Christian country, has a significant long-established Muslim minority, primarily composed of Turks, Pomaks (ethnic Bulgarians with Islamic faith), and Roma. During the rise of ISIS, there were concerns about the vulnerability of these groups to radicalization due to the influence of global jihadist ideologies. On one hand, the media outlets emphasized the integration of Muslims into
Bulgarian society and the peaceful nature of most of the community. On the other hand, several media channels amplified fears of terrorism, often using sensationalized headlines and stories that blurred the lines between Islam and extremism. This media coverage risked alienating Muslim communities and potentially driving marginalized individuals towards radical ideologies, acting as a conduit of radicalization. By portraying Muslims as a security threat, some media narratives fed into Islamophobic sentiments, which could increase feelings of isolation among the Muslim minority.
While the media in Bulgaria had the potential to act as a shield by promoting understanding and countering radical narratives, in some cases, it became a conduit of radicalization by fostering fear, misunderstanding, and division, particularly during the peak of ISIS’s influence between 2014 and 2019. The balance of these two roles varied greatly across different media platforms and outlets.
Radicalization, Islam, muslims, Islamic State, ISIS
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