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What is the Political Science Institute?
An independent Bulgarian think tank based in Varna, with members across the country and abroad. A non-governmental organization operating for the public benefit.
Mission
To work for the advancement of political science in Bulgaria.
The Institute is a non-profit legal entity operating for the public benefit, registered under the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (NPLEA). It was established to bring together the will, efforts, and organizational and academic capabilities of its individual members.
The supreme body of the organization is the General Assembly, which includes all of its members. The governing body is the Management Board, currently made up of seven people: three Co-Chairs, two Deputy Chairs, and members. The Co-Chairs represent the organization jointly or individually.
Objectives
Objectives of the organization.
01
To facilitate communication and joint activity among its members;
02
To ensure effective structured dialogue through partnerships with relevant stakeholders and decision-making institutions;
03
To help promote political science in Bulgaria;
04
To support the development and improvement of youth and education policies at the European, national, regional, and local levels;
05
To offer society independent expertise on important issues;
06
To encourage youth participation.
History
From the Youth Political Science Association to the Political Science Institute.
The organization was founded in 2017 in Varna as the “Youth Political Science Association” (MAPN) by students and young political scientists from Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, and Varna. Since then, it has grown into a close-knit community united by a passion for political science.
In 2023–2024 the organization began a process of change, which led to a natural need to change its name, structure, and some of its goals. As a result, in 2025 MAPN became the Political Science Institute.
Team
The people behind the Institute.
Management Board
Sergey Petrov – Aradzhioni
Co-Chair
Sergey Petrov is a Bulgarian political analyst and author.
Kaloyan Smilkov
Co-Chair
Kaloyan Smilkov is a Bulgarian political and legal anthropologist.
Dimitar Keranov
Co-Chair
Political scientist, Africanist, and polyglot.
Antoni Gerasimov
Deputy Chair
Antoni Gerasimov is a Bulgarian political scientist.
Dzhansu Danadzhieva
Deputy Chair
Political scientist and expert on Turkish foreign policy.
Vladimir Slavenski
Management Board Member
Political scientist and PhD candidate in political science.
Emil Markov
Management Board Member
PhD in “Contemporary Bulgarian Politics.”
Members
Elitsa Uzunova
Member
Political scientist
Aleksandar Bahnev
Member
Political scientist and translator.
Vladislav Stamov
Member
Lidia Daskalova
Member
Lawyer and political scientist.
Yavor Yankov
Member
Atanas Konaliev
Member
Political scientist and expert on Turkish foreign policy
Teodora Tsoneva
Member
Political scientist and PhD candidate in political science
Vladislava Mateva
Member
PhD in “Contemporary Bulgarian Politics”
Membership
How to become a member
Our members come from across the country and from abroad. If you share our goals and want to take part in the Institute’s work, download and complete the membership application form and send it to [email protected]. You can also write to us through the contact form by choosing “Membership”.