Social pedagogy in Bulgaria has a long and interesting tradition that has remained hidden from the
international world of the subject. In Bulgaria, social pedagogy is a unique mixture of the German social
pedagogical tradition, the Bulgarian pedagogical system and Russian pedagogical influence. Social
pedagogy affirmed its position within the Bulgarian pedagogical space around the same time as Karl
Mager used the term for the first time. In spite of the tight grip social pedagogy had on the Bulgarian
education system, during the time of communism it was branded as ‘bourgeois science’ and was
forbidden, but not forgotten. The second phase of the development of Bulgarian social pedagogy started
at the beginning of the 1990s, as a result of the democratisation and liberalisation changes that took place
following the fall of communism. Since that time, social pedagogy in the Bulgarian context has evolved
into the remarkable science and practical field it is today. This article attempts to spread the knowledge
of Bulgarian social pedagogy’s origins, traditions, concepts, theories and practices, and to open the door
for further cooperation between Bulgaria and the international social pedagogical community
