On March 22, 2022, the Political Science Institute, in partnership with Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski," hosted a major round table discussion. Organized by leading lecturers and researchers, the forum focused on providing a rapid and expert-led analysis of the causes, emerging trends, and strategic conclusions of the conflict.
Key Discussion Areas:
Strategic Context: Consequences for European security and the reshaping of the NATO-EU defense framework.
Black Sea Security: The vital role of the Montreux Convention and the rise of Russian influence in the region.
Ideology and Narratives: A critical look at "resurgent empire" doctrines and the myths used to justify the invasion.
Featured Speakers & Presentation Topics:
Prof. Rumen Kanchev: The Russia-Ukraine War and its consequences for European security.
Assoc. Prof. Velizar Shalamanov: NATO’s strategic response since the 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Antoni Gerasimov: Security architecture in the Black Sea and the rise of Russia through the lens of the Montreux Convention.
Dzhansu Danadzhieva: The war in Ukraine: A local conflict or a fragment of a resurgent empire’s doctrine?
Prof. Nikolay Nikolov: Specific risks to Bulgaria's national security.
Assoc. Prof. Plamen Ralchev: Geopolitical revanchism and the reputational damage to the Russian Federation.
Assoc. Prof. Momchil Doychev: Russia’s war against Ukraine as a fundamental clash with European values.
Dr. Sergey Petrov-Aradzhioni: "Denazification" as a motive for military aggression – a valid reason or a myth?
Vladimir Slavenski: Eastern Europe through the prism of international relations history (1648–2022) and Russia’s "final battle."
Significance of the Forum
Held just weeks after the start of the invasion, this event was one of the first academic platforms in Bulgaria to offer such a detailed multidisciplinary analysis. Its success led to further discussions in the same format throughout the year, solidifying the Political Science Institute’s role as a key contributor to the regional geopolitical dialogue.