KOMSHULUK SEBAGAI MODAL SOSIAL KOMUNITAS POMAKS MUSLIM DI PEGUNUNGAN RHODOPE BULGARIA

Abstract

The Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, an ethnolinguistically and geopolitically complex borderland, are home to the Pomaks, a large Slavic Muslim minority community. This paper examines komshuluk, a traditional system of neighborhood solidarity rooted in the Turkish word "komşuluk", as a vital form of social capital essential for the community's survival and adaptation. Using the lens of social capital theory (Bourdieu, Coleman, Putnam), integrated with ethnolinguistic and geopolitical approaches, the study defines komshuluk as a complex social institution transcending mere geographic ties. The system creates deep, multidimensional bonds through three core dimensions of capital: Structural Capital (dense horizontal and vertical networks with elders and imams), Relational Capital (high levels of trust, reciprocity, and collective identification), and Cognitive Capital (shared values integrating Islamic norms with Slavic tradition). Manifested daily in religious ceremonies, life-cycle events, and agricultural economic activities, komshuluk functions to mitigate risk and reduce transactional costs. It acts as an internal social control and cultural transmission mechanism. In the face of external pressures like historical assimilation efforts post-1878, the Pomaks utilized this capital to develop innovative adaptation strategies, including identity negotiation, economic diversification, and cross-border networking. The success of komshuluk demonstrates the resilience of traditional institutions in enabling the Pomaks to maintain their identity while integrating into modern Bulgarian society.