Reform for survival or for a change? Bulgarian parties' reform strategies in comparative perspective

The paper aims to analyze the causes, the nature and the outcomes of party reforms implemented by the "oldest" Bulgarian parties (most resilient parties in the weakly institutionalized party system) – the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP (founded in 1990); the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS (founded in 1990); and the party Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, DSB (founded in 2004). Particular attention will be focused on the case of BSP that went throughout multiple reforms of different essence since its appearance as a successor party to nowadays. Political parties's reforms will be approached from different perspectives : in terms of IPD; party leader's election; modes of party’s affiliation and membership and electoral coalitions. How the established parties tackle the challenges of new parties and political entrepreneurs competition in fluid party systems? What are the main purposes of party reforms - ti survive or to change? The main research goals address: (1) exploring the causes of party reforms for different parties in similar context, electoral arena and party system; (2) understanding the nature and purposes of reforms: in party organization - leading to more inclusiveness or not; IPD in decision making; shifting identities and party manifestos; electoral coalitions; (3) highlighting the peculiarities of BSP’s reforms in comparison with other successor parties in CEE. The main research questions concern the causes triggering the party reform: electoral defeat; change of party leadership; domestic and international factors, and the purposes and the outcomes of these reforms.