Mirena Mitova

assistant, PhD

1988 (Lom, Bulgaria)

e-mail: mirena(dot)mitova(at)gmail(dot)com

1. Main fields of research

History of Bulgaria after World War II. History of the Cold War. Bulgaria’s foreign economic relations during the Cold War.

2. Academic competencies and career

Еducation

2016–2020 – Doctor’s Degree – title of dissertation „Plovdiv International Fair in the scope of foreign trade policy of Bulgaria during the Cold War“.

2012–2013 – The building of modern Bulgaria: State and Society (at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century) – Master’s Degree Program, Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.

2008–2012 –Major History under Bachelor’s Degree Program, Paisiy Hilendarski University of Plovdiv

Positions held

2022 – present – assistant, Institute of Historical Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

Degree and academic rank

2022 – present – PhD, Higher education: 2 Humanities; professional line: 2.2. History and Archeology; Academic specialty: Bulgarian History

Participation in scientific projects

2021–2022 Bulgaria-Slovakia encounters: social, economic and political transformations, integrational challenges (19th–20th centuries) “Bulgaria-Slovakia Encounters: social, economic and political transformations, integration challenges (19th – 20th centuries) – member.

2017–2019 – Project under the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Programme for Young Scientists and PhD Students 2017 – №ДФНП-17-82/28.07.2017 г. Project topic: “The Plovdiv Fair as a place for transnational cultural and economic contacts of Bulgaria during the Cold War”, project manager

Languages

English

3. Publications

Books

Plovdiv International Fair in the Foreign Trade Policy of Bulgaria during the Cold War. Koala Press, Plovdiv, 2022, p. 456. ISBN 978-619-261-014-2

Papers

  • The (un)usual friendship between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany on the background of Cold War. Establishment of long-term foreign political and economic relations in the 70-ies of 20th century – Studenckie Zeszyty Naukowe, Instytutu filologii Slowianskiej UJ, ISSN 2299-2545, number 2(6)/2014, page 91-103.
  • The dialogue between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany – a bridge between the East and the West – Vremena, ISSN 2367-5527, issue 5/ January 2015, page 16-28.
  • Collaboration between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany in the areas of transport, tourism and science in the 80-ies of 20th century – Studenckie Zeszyty Naukowe, Instytutu filologii Slowianskiej UJ, number 1(7)/2015, page 81-87; ISSN 2299-2545.
  • Dynamic industrial cooperation between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany in the 80-ies of 20th century – International scientific journal “Perspectivi”, ISSN 2367-7708, issue 1(7)/2016, page 25-31.
  • Development of the exchange of merchandise between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany in the 80-ies and the difficulties for Bulgarian export – Journal for historical and archeological researches, ISSN 1314-748X, issue 3/2016, page 116-129.
  • “One national cause” – the contribution of Plovdiv figures to the restoration of the Plovdiv International Fair after the Second World War. – In: Plovdiv in the second half of the 19th and 20th centuries – society, personalities, local government. Yearbook. Plovdiv: Regional Historical Museum–Plovdiv 2017, page 237–245. ISSN-1311-9133.
  • The role of Plovdiv International Fair for the establishment of trading relations between Bulgaria and the Federal Republic of Germany in the time of Cold War. – Plovdiv Historical Forum, Plovdiv, 2017, booklet 2, page 71 – 80, ISSN 2535-0935, ISSN 2535-0951 (Online).
  • The reforms in Bulgarian foreign trading in the 60-ies of 20th century and the role of Plovdiv International Fair – В: Reforms and reforming initiatives in Bulgaria and worldwide in the 20th century. Sofia: Sofia University Kliment Ohridski University Press, 2018, ISBN 978-954-07-4487-2, page 116 – 128.
  • The institutional structure of Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1936 – 1948 – Dzyalo, issue 12, 2018, page 1 – 20, ISSN 1314-9067.
  • The Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1944 – 1948 – between the propaganda and the trading – Historical review, 2018, booklet 2, page 113-136. ISSN 0323-9748.
  • The Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1948 – 1953 – between the propaganda and the economy – В: Notifications of the Regional Historical Museum of Gabrovo, volume VI, 2018, Faber, Veliko Tarnovo: 2019, page 153 – 170. ISSN 2367-783X.
  • “The forgotten role of Plovdiv International Fair in the trading policy of Bulgaria during the second half of the 50-ies in the 20th century.” – Compilation of International scientific conference “Memory and Oblivion”, Kyustendil, Volume 24 (2018). Sofia: Kliment Ohridski University Publishing Press, 2020, page 219–233. ISBN: 978-954-0749563.
  • “The socialist fair of the new homeland” – propaganda and culture during the exhibitions at Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1947 – 1989 – Plovdiv Historical Forum, 2 (4), Paisiy Hilendarski University Press, 2018, ISSN:2535-0935, page 48-72.
  • The Plovdiv International Fair in the foreign trading policy of Bulgaria in the time of Cold War – В: Empires and imperial heritage on the Balkans. Compilation in tribute to the 70th anniversary of Prof. Lyudmil Spasov Ph.D. in History. Volume 2. Modern and contemporary times. Compiler: D. Dimitrov, S. Каtsarov, R. Pendzhekova-Hristeva, D. Borisov, Publisher: Bulgarian Historical Heritage Foundation, Plovdiv 2019. ISBN 978-954-8536-33-2., page 385-402.
  • Plovdiv International Fair in Bulgarian-Czechoslovak trade relations in the middle of the 40s and in the 50s of the XX Century – Historical review, 2022, booklet 2, page 22-42. ISSN 0323-9748.

4. Participation in scientific forums

  • National scientific conference “Plovdiv in the second half of the XIX and XX century – society, personalities, local government” from 8 and 9 June 2017 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Plovdiv with the topic “One national cause” – the contribution of Plovdiv figures to the restoration of the Plovdiv International Fair after the Second World War.
  • Scientific Conference “Reforms and Reform Initiatives in Bulgaria and the World in the 20th Century”, organized by the Faculty of History of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” on 02.10.2017 with the topic “The reforms in Bulgarian foreign trading in the 60-ies of 20th century and the role of Plovdiv International Fair.”
  • Conference “Development of Crafts and Industry in Bulgaria in the XIX-XIX centuries and the contribution of Gabrovo” from 26-27 April 2018 with the topic “The Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1948–1953 – between the propaganda and the economy”.
  • International Scientific Conference “Memory and Forgetting in History”, organized by Sofia University and RHM – Kyustendil from 01.06.2018 to 03.06.2018 with the topic “The forgotten role of Plovdiv International Fair in the trading policy of Bulgaria during the second half of the 50-ies in the 20th century.”
  • Scientific Readings “Plovdiv Historical Forum” of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Plovdiv “Paisii Hilendarski”, held on 19.12.2018 with the topic “The socialist fair of the new homeland – propaganda and culture during the exhibitions at Plovdiv International Fair in the period 1947 – 1989”.
  • International scientific conference in honor of the 70th anniversary of Prof. Lyudmil Spasov “Empires and imperial heritage in the Balkans”, organized by the Faculty of Philosophy and History at the Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”, held on 11/15/2019 to 11/17/2019 with the topic “The Plovdiv International Fair in the foreign trading policy of Bulgaria in the time of Cold War“
  • International scientific conference “The benefit of History”, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Paisius Hilendar and the 260th anniversary of the writing of his “Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya”, held on 23-25.09.2022 in Plovdiv with the topic “The Benefits of Plovdiv International Fair for the Foreign Trade Policy of Bulgaria in the 60s of the XX Century”.

5. Practical activities

Lectures and other public events to promote academic achievements

The Article “Boris Chobanov and the first post-war International Fair – Plovdiv”, published on the website “Bulgarian History”.

The Page in the newspaper Maritsa – Weekend, no. 28, Saturday-Sunday, February 2-3, 2019, p. 22.

On the occasion of 150 years of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – a public lecture on the topic “The International Fair – Plovdiv in Bulgaria’s foreign trade during the Cold War” on 16.05.2019 at the Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

6. Awards and honors

2019 – The Certificate for a successfully completed project under the Program to Support Young Scientists and Doctoral Students of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences under Contract №ДФНП-17-82/28.07.2017 Project topic: “The Plovdiv Fair as a place for transnational cultural and economic contacts of Bulgaria in during the Cold War”, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.