Paper Short Abstract:

This paper shows how persistence, modification, recombination, and the absence of concrete convey transformations in social morals, ideals, and imaginations. My results are based on ethnographic research in northwest Bulgaria.

Paper Abstract:

During our visit to the abandoned thermal baths in Northwest Bulgaria, Natasha and I observed several sites and facilities that, according to my interlocutor, either required investment or suffered from privatization. Using both terms at a discussion on two plastic pipes tapped with concrete, Natasha referred to investments (‘Инвестиции‘) for the enhancement of local infrastructure with external funding, and to privatisation (‘Приватизация‘) to address the sale of local infrastructure for immoral personal gain. Building on rich ethnographic material from northwest Bulgaria, the paper analyses how the continuity of concrete persists in both terms, frequently cited by my interlocutors to not only support the narratives of flexibilisation but also the immoral, yet appealing possibilities of participating in self-enrichment practices (‘Самообогатяване’). As my argument develops, I conclude that the modification, recombination, and absence of familiar materials such as concrete may serve to convey social morals, ideals, and imagination. All data was collected between December 2019 and September 2021.