Why do Bulgarians consistently disrespect the law, especially on a petty level.

For 500 years Bulgarians had no OWN form of government. To a certain degree, we had NO form of government at all. This has instilled a deep dislike for all forms of authority, especially imposed from above. Government is seen not as a right of self-governance or as a widespread consensus between a certain number of people. Rather it is considered as authoritarian power, imposing, obligating, taking, distant. The Law is something imposed by someone far away and should be circumvented, the enforcement of law should be sidetracked. Law should be obeyed on paper only since it is a foreign construct.

Self-government was another issue. During the long centuries of Ottoman rule, self-regulation was strong. Communities were very traditional and adhered to a strict set of community rules, codes of conduct, very definite sense of right and wrong, proper and improper. So on a community level, people respected their own self-imposed regulations. However, after we were liberated, with the gradual collapse of traditional communities and migration into the cities, the sense of belonging and common set of rules quickly disintegrated. However,
the dread of the law and state remained. For many Bulgarians, all that changed in fact, was the center of power. They were now bowing not to Istanbul , but to Sofia. After the euphoria had subsided, it became clear that power would be distributed and the law enforced in pretty much the same way. Clearly, there would be change in the decades to come, Bulgaria would thrive, despite its many adversities. Nevertheless, the collective unconscious had instilled a deep resentment towards any forms of distant, all-pervasive source of power and order. On an individual basis Bulgarians continue to feel pretty much the same way:

The Law isn’t something that necessarily needs to be obeyed. Collectively- yes, by all means! Individually- by no means.

When you ask Bulgarians if they love their country- most will be very patriotic about it. Asked if they love the state, well most of us will say “Fuck the state” or “ this is a fucked-up state” (шибана държава).