LAG DIRECTORS' VIEWS ON THE LEADER/CLLD APPROACH IN BULGARIA: QUALITATIVE EVIDENCE AND TRIANGULATION WITH SURVEY RESULTS

This article examines the mechanisms that explain why positive attitudes towards the LEADER/CLLD approach in Bulgaria do not automatically translate into actual community engagement. The analysis is based on triangulation of quantitative data from a survey among 321 rural residents and qualitative data from 15 in-depth interviews with LAG directors (2025). The literature already suggests that LEADER functions effectively when local resources are combined with external networks, and when stakeholder participation is substantive rather than formal. Our empirical evidence confirms that Bulgarian citizens generally perceive LEADER positively and do not question its underlying idea or logic. However, participation is uneven and frequently limited. The qualitative interviews reveal that the main barrier is not distrust, but the heavy institutional and administrative burden, which slows down procedures, discourages minor beneficiaries, and dilutes motivation. Directors of LAGs act simultaneously as promoters of the model and translators between communities and the administration. Although critical of current procedures, they remain optimistic about the future of the approach and expect more autonomy and better-designed support instruments in the next programming period. The findings show that the key to unlocking LEADER’s potential lies in governance improvements, not in changing the approach's philosophy.