Simona Viktorova Samuilova

PhD, Assoc. Prof. Simona Samuilova

Scientific Secretary of the Institute for Historical Studies – BAS (since march 2026)
Assistant Scientific Secretary of the Institute for Historical Studies – BAS (2021 – march 2026)

Bul. “Shipchenski prohod” bl. 52, bl. 17, Sofia

Research ID (Web of Science): AAU-6600-2020
Scopus Author ID: 57214892174
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-1460-7503

Е-mail: s_samuilova(at)yahoo(dot)com; samuilova(at)ihist(dot)bas(dot)bg

1. MAIN FIELDS OF RESEARCH

Cold War; U.S. Public Diplomacy; Soft Power in International Relations

2. ACADEMIC CAREER

Education

2012-2015 – PhD in History, Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

2005-2007 – MS, Faculty of History, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

2000-2004 – BS, Faculty of History, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski

1995-2000 – Secondary education, National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures “St. Constantine – Cyril the Philosopher”

Positions held

2025 – Associate Professor, Section „History of the World and International Relations in Modern and Contemporary Times,” Institute for Historical Studies, BAS (ongoing)

2020-2025 – Chief Assistant Professor, Institute for Historical Studies, BAS

2016-2020 – Assistant Professor in the “History of the World and the International Relations in Modern and Contemporary Times” section of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Academic degree and rank

2025 – Associate Professor, Institute for Historical Studies, BAS

2020 – Chief Assistant Professor, BAS

2016 – PhD in History after a dissertation defense on the topic: “The Educational Exchange Programs as a Part of U.S. Public Diplomacy towards FRG and PRB (1969-1975): Goals and Achievements”, supervisor Prof. Vitka Toshkova

Membership in scientific organizations

2017 (continued) – Member of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria (SUB)

Participation in Research Projects

Member of the scientific team at the Institute for Historical Studies, working on a joint research project  with the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology on the following topic: ‘Beyond the Boundaries of Time and Space: Bulgaria and Egypt in the Dynamics of Transformations in the Middle East’ (2025 – 2027).

2025–2026: Collective scientific project „Collective volume in honor of Prof. Dr. Luiza Revyakina“, organized by the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (participant).

Expert on the implementation of the National Scientific Program “Development of research and innovation in the field of Bulgarian pre-school and school education”, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science (2025-2030)

Member of the scientific team of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the implementation of the National Project “Minorities and Minority Groups – Challenges and Adaptation within the International System (XX-XXI century)” (2023-2025)

Expert on the implementation of the National Scientific Program “Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad”, funded by the Ministry of Education (2022-2025)

Member of the scientific team of the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the implementation of the National Project “Research on Contemporary History of Bulgaria – Status and Prospects” of the Institute for Historical Studies (2022-2024)

Member of the scientific team of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the implementation of the Scientific-Applied Project “Preparation and Conduct of a Student Conference” on the topic “The Treaty of Neuilly and its Consequences” (2019-2020)

Member of the scientific team of the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in implementation of the National Project “The Study of World History and Bulgarian Historical Science” of the Institute for Historical Studies (2019-2022)

Member of the scientific team of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for the implementation of the National Project “Bulgaria – Sources and Documents”, financed by the European Social Fund, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science and the Human Resources Development Operational Program (2012-2013)

Individual Research Project

2017-2020 – U.S. Public Diplomacy towards the Former Eastern Bloc Countries since the End of the Cold War

3. PUBLICATIONS

Books

  • American Public Diplomacy in Bulgaria During the First Decade After the End of the Cold War. Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2025, 286 pages. ISBN 978-619-245-518-7. [In Bulgarian]
  • Cold War Breakthroughs: U.S. Educational Exchange Programs toward FRG and PRB. Sofia: Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2017. ISBN 978-954-322-893-5. [In Bulgarian]

Studies and Articles

  • The Peace Corps Programs in Bulgaria (1991 – 2013): Goals and Implementation. In: History, Azbuki, iss.1/2025, с. 70 – 84, ISSN:0861-3710. [In Bulgarian]
  • Jewish Educational Activities in Bulgaria from the Liberation to the Present Time. In: Proceedings of Institute for Historical Studies. Vol. 39: About Professionalism in Historical Science. Collection of Research Papers in Honor of Professor Tamara Stoilova, Sofia: Prof. Marin Drinov Publishing House of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2025, с. 301-326. ISSN 2367-5187 (print) ISSN 2815-2913 (online). [In Bulgarian]
  • The Activity of the National Endowment for Democracy in Bulgaria in the early 1990s: Goals and Implementation. In: Historical Review, 2024(1), 107-130. ISSN:0323-9748. [In Bulgarian]
  • The U.S. Public Diplomacy in the Former Eastern Bloc Countries during the George H. W. Bush Presidency (Following the Example of Bulgaria). In: Historical Review, 2023(3), 103-132. ISSN:0323-9748. [In Bulgarian]
  • Disinformation and Myth-Making during the Cold War. In: Bulgarian Historical Review, 2022(1-2), 188-207. ISSN:0204-8906.
  • Problems and Prospects for the Development of Historical American Studies in Bulgaria. In: Proceedings of Institute for Historical Studies, Vol. 38, 2022, 181-195. ISSN:2367-5187. [In Bulgarian]
  • The Road to Israel: Emigration and Integration of the Jews from Bulgaria to the New State. In: Migration and Social Development Vol. 2, Institute for Historical Studies, 2022, 135-168. ISBN:978-954-2903-54-3. [In Bulgarian]
  • U.S. – Bulgarian Exchange of Scientists and State Security: Cold War Case Study. In: International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, Vol. 35, Issue: 2, Taylor & Francis, 2022, 339-352. ISSN:08850607.
  • Bulgarians in the GULAG: The Cases of Political Exiles Nediu Sakov and Petar Marinov. In: History, “Az-buki”, 6/2022, 571-586. ISSN:0861-3710. [In Bulgarian]
  • Bulgarian-American Relations in the Field Of Education And Science after the End of The Cold War. In: History, “Az-buki”, 2/2021, 177-188. ISSN:0861-3710. [In Bulgarian]
  • The Peace Corps ‘Expansion’ into Central and Eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War. In: History, Azbuki, Vol. 28, 2020(1), ISSN:08613710, 48-59. [In Bulgarian]
  • The Impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy on the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. In: Science, Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, 2020(4), 15-19. ISSN: 0861-3362 (печатно), 2603-3623 (електронно). [In Bulgarian]
  • The Peace Corps: From the Idea of Volunteering to a ‘weapon’ of the Cold War (between Idealism and Pragmatism)”. In: Proceedings of an international scientific conference. Regional Library “Lyuben Karavelov”, 1, Ed. Regional Library “Lyuben Karavelov” – Ruse, 2019, 417-425. ISBN:9786197404081. [In Bulgarian]
  • The U.S. Democracy Programs in Eastern Europe during the 90s: the cases of Bulgaria and Ukraine. In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference “Bulgaria and Ukraine in the History of Europe”. Proceedings Kiev-Sofia, 2019, 523-539. ISBN:9789660288133. [In Bulgarian]
  • The Road to Democracy: the Bulgarian-American Relations during the Period November 1989-1992. In: Historical Future, 2018(1-2), Clio Association, 94-117. ISSN:1311-0144. [In Bulgarian]
  • The ‘Allowed’ Cultural Exchange between the People’s Republic of Bulgaria and the United States in the 1960″. In : Drinov Collection, XI том, 2018, 402-411. ISSN 2218-0567. [In Bulgarian]
  • Disinformation in the Ideological Race during the Cold War and its Heritage. In: Bulgarian Historical Review, 1-2/2018, 2018, 155-178. ISSN:02048906.
  • American Public Diplomacy and the War on Fake News, in Truths and Lies About Facts, News, and Events. In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 24-25 April 2018, Ed. Regional Library “Lyuben Karavelov” – Ruse, Vol. 2, 245-253. ISBN 978-619-740404-3. [In Bulgarian]
  • Development of American Studies: from “national” to “transnational“. In: Historical Review, 2017, is. 5-6, 194- 218. ISSN 0323-9748. [In Bulgarian]
  • The United States Assistance Programs for Eastern Europe: between Expectations and Reality. In: Historical Review 2017, 1-2, 61-79. (2018). ISSN 1311-0144. [In Bulgarian]
  • Establishment and Spread of the US Cultural and Information Spaces“. In: Bulgarian Historical Review, No: 1-2/2016 г. 109-121.
  • The international scientific cooperation between the United States and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria during the Cold War”. In: Educational Alternatives Vol. 12, 203-211, 2014; ISSN 1314-7277.
  • Scientific and Educational Programs between the US and the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War”. In: Bulgarian Historical Research, 1-2/2014; 162-182, ISSN 0204-8906.
  • Establishment and Development of International Educational Exchange Programs of the United States in the 1930s – 1960s: Objectives of Cultural Diplomacy. In: Historical Review 2013, is. 3-4, 159-185. ISSN 0323-9748. [In Bulgarian]
  • Scientific and educational relations between the USA and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria through the eyes of State Security”. In: Jubilee scientific conference with international participation “Science and education traditions and future”, Scientific works Volume V. Kardzhali, 2014. 72-77. ISSN 1314-3425. [In Bulgarian]

Textbooks

  • History and Civilizations, 12th grade. Module 1 Power and Institutions. Klett Bulgaria, 2021 (co-authorship). [In Bulgarian]
  • History and Civilizations, 12th grade. Module 2 Culture and Spirituality. Klett Bulgaria, 2021 (co-authorship). [In Bulgarian]

Reviews

  • New research on American intelligence and Bulgaria (1941-1991). In: History, 4/2022, 442-448. [In Bulgarian]
  • Scientific Conference “The Study of World History and Bulgarian Historical Science”. In. In: Dzialo, XX, Publication of the Institute of Bulgarian Language – BAS, 2021, ISSN:1314-9067. [In Bulgarian]
  • Nadya Filipova. Bulgaria and Syria in the Assad Era. Sofia, “Iztok-Zapad” Publishing House, 2017. 522 p. In: Bulgarian Historical Review, is. 3-4/2019, 289-292.
  • Historian – Prof. Vitka Toshkova 80 years old. In: Historical Review, is. 4/2019, 213-220. [In Bulgarian]

4. PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC FORUMS

  • International Scientific Conference ‘The Other Face of War’ (November 16-17, 2025, Sofia). Report on the topic: ‘Between Cuisine and Art: The Exchange of Exhibitions as a Tool of the Cold War’.
  • Minorities and Minority Groups: Challenges and Adaptation within the International System, June 18–19, 2025, Sofia, plenary paper: “Organizational life of Jews in Bulgaria from the Liberation to the present day”.
  • Forum “Indian Kaleidoscope: The Soft Power of India”, June 3–4, 2025, Sofia, paper: “Soft power in international relations (following the example of India and the US)”.
  • International Conference “The East – Near and Far: Texts, Societies and Cultures,, 28-30.11.2024, paper: “The Bulgarian Diaspora in Israel: Social Integration and cultural heritage”.
  • International scientific conference “Foreign Humanities for Bulgaria and Bulgarians” under the program of the National Research Center for Bulgarian Studies, with a report on the topic: “Historical Bulgarian Studies in the USA during the Cold War”.
  • 12th Joint Conference of Bulgarian and North American Scholars “Living Bridges across time”, Sofia June 15-17, 2024. Paper: “The Activities of the Peace Corps in Bulgaria: Goals and Implementation”.
  • Scientific conference “Bulgaria, Europe and the World: Traditions and Transformations”, held on 24-25.04. 2024 with a report on the topic: “Scholarly work of the Jewish minority in Bulgaria from the Liberation to the present day”
  • Scientific conference “East – West: Religions, Centers and Peripheries”, October 19-20, 2023 with a report on the topic: “The National Endowment for Democracy and the Export of Democracy on the American Model in Bulgaria in the 1990s.”
  • Historical Science in the Contemporary World” – a solemn conference dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, held on December 16, 2022. Report on the topic: “Historical Science in the Digital Age”.
  • Scientific conference “Migration and Social Development” within the framework of the National Scientific Program “Cultural and Historical Heritage, National Memory and Social Development”, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science, held on December 6, 2021. Report on the topic: “The Road to Israel: Emigration and Adaptation of Jews from Bulgaria to the New State”.
  • The Study of World History and Bulgarian Historical Science” – a scientific conference with international participation on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the section “World History and International Relations in Modern and Contemporary Times” at the Institute of History and History, held on October 5-6, 2021. Report on the topic: “Problems and Prospects for the Development of Historical American Studies in Bulgaria”.
  • Seminar “Mahatma Gandhi: Global Dimensions”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, October 22, 2019, Institute of History – Sofia. Report on the topic: “Gandhi’s Influence on the Civil Rights Movement in the USA”.
  • International round table on the project of the Institute for Historical Research: “Russia, Bulgaria, the Balkans. Problems of War and Peace XVIII-XXI (Myths and Reality)”, held on July 1, 2019 in Sofia. Report on the topic: “Disinformation and Mythmaking during the Cold War”.
  • International scientific conference: “Ideas, Ideals – Rise and Fall”, held on April 23, 2019 in the city of Ruse 2019. Report on the topic: “The Peace Corps: from the idea of volunteering for peace and understanding to a weapon of the Cold War”.
  • International Scientific Conference “Bulgaria and Ukraine in the History of Europe”, held on 18-19 June 2018 in. The conference was held on the 18th of June in Sofia. “US democratization programs in Eastern Europe: the cases of Bulgaria and Ukraine”.
  • International Scientific Conference “Truths and lies about facts, news and events” The conference was held on April 24th, 2018 in Rousse. Paper: American public diplomacy and the war against fake news.
  • International Conference: Education, Research and Development 4-8 September 2014 Elenite, Bulgaria. Paper Title: International Scientific cooperation between the U.S. and Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
  • Scientific conference with international participation “Science and education – traditions and future”. Kardzhali, 02-03.10.2014. Scientific and educational relations between the USA and the People’s Republic of Bulgaria through the eyes of the State Security”.

Academic Public Lectures

  • “The Dimensions of American Public Diplomacy in Bulgaria after the End of the Cold War”, held on 20.06. 2023 as part of the seminar “Current Problems of Bulgarian History and Historiography” within the framework of the NNP “Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies Abroad”, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science.
  • “Fake News in the Ideological Confrontation between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War“ as part of the series ”Lectures by the Young Scientists of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences” on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Academy, held on 28 March 2019 at the Institute of Historical Studies, Sofia.

5. AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

Diploma for the best article in the “Humanities Section” on “Scientific and Educational Relations between the USA and the LPR through the Eyes of State Security” at the Jubilee Scientific Conference with International Participation “Science and Education Traditions and Future”, Kardzhali 02-03.10.2014.