Prostitution and Public Policy in Post-Socialist Bulgaria

The article examines prostitution in Bulgaria, which has become a widespread phenomenon in the post-socialist period when the number of sex workers increases and the places where sex services are offered proliferate. At the same time, the policies towards prostitution remain archaic and inadequate to the new circumstances. The text draws on an empirical base, mixing qualitative and quantitative research conducted in the period 2008-2022. Results of two nationally representative surveys of public opinion on the subject are analyzed. Additionally, reviews of court cases, other documents and Internet forums of clients using paid sex services are discussed. Results from monitoring of specialized police operations related to prostitution are presented. The first part of the text presents the historical development of prostitution in Bulgaria - before socialism and during the communist regime. The second part focuses on the rise of prostitution in post-socialist Bulgaria - development of the sex market is traced; main layers of prostitution and social mobility patterns are analyzed; the role of the third party is discussed. The third part examines the current policies regarding prostitution in Bulgaria. In the concluding section, the article discusses the potential for developing new policies on prostitution in post-socialist Bulgaria.