Siya Ivanova Nikiforova

Dr. Siya Ivanova Nikiforova

Senior Assistant Professor

Email: sianikiforova(at)gmail(dot)com, nikiforova_s(at)ihist(dot)bas(dot)bg

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4383-5801
WoS Researcher ID: KOD-0105-2024

1. Research Interests

Modern and Contemporary History, Socio-economic History, Bulgaria, the Balkans

2. Academic Career

Education

  • 2009 – PhD in History. Dissertation topic: „Bulgarian Policy in Vardar Macedonia 1941–1944“, Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georgi Daskalov
  • 2005–2008 – PhD Program, Faculty of History, Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski”

Academic Degrees and Titles

  • 2022–Present – Senior Assistant Professor, Institute for Historical Studies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS)
  • 2018 – Assistant Professor, Institute for Historical Studies – BAS
  • 2009 – PhD

Positions Held

  • 2022–Present – Senior Assistant Professor, Institute for Historical Studies – BAS
  • 2018 – Assistant Professor, Institute for Historical Studies – BAS
  • 2014–Present – Teacher at the 9th French Language High School „Alphonse de Lamartine”

Memberships

  • 2025 – Member of the Western Balkans Scientific Institute
  • 2007–Present – Member of the Macedonian Scientific Institute

Languages

  • English, Russian, French

Academic Specializations

  • 2024 – Archive of Yugoslavia – Belgrade
  • 2007 – State Archive of Macedonia – Skopje
  • Archival and library research in Bulgaria, Austria, Serbia, and North Macedonia

Participation in Joint Research Projects

  • „Bulgarians in the Western Balkans (100 Years Before and After the Treaty of Neuilly)”, funded by the Research Fund – Ministry of Education and Science, 2018–2024
  • „Macedonia: History and Culture from Antiquity to Today”, 2018–2023, Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Alex Grebenarov

3. Publications

A. Individual Monographs

  • Bulgarian Economic Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944), Sofia, 2018, 295 pages, ISBN 978-619-7377-02-6

B. Collaborative Works

  • History of Dupnitsa and the Dupnitsa Region, Sofia, 2015, pp. 387–414, ISBN 978-954-8187-94-7

C. Studies and Articles

  • Nikiforova, S. The Agrarian Reform as a Mode of Use in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (KSCS)/Yugoslavia and Bulgaria (1919–1939). – Bulgarian Historical Review, vol. 52, No. 3–4, 2024, pp. 86–118.
  • Nikiforova, S. The Bulgarian Rule in Vardar Macedonia from a Socio-economic Point of View. – In: Bulgaria and Macedonia. History and Politics. Part Two – A New Direction. Sofia, 2024, pp. 199–281. ISBN 978-619-91801-4-3.
  • Economic Problems of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes/Yugoslavia (1919–1939). – Historical Review, 79 (2023), No. 3, pp. 77–103. ISSN 0323-9748.
  • The Socio-economic Crisis and the Rise of Communist Power in Bulgaria (1944–1947). – In: Proceedings of the Regional Historical Museum – Gabrovo, VIII, 2023. Faber Publishing, Veliko Tarnovo, 2023, pp. 211–236. ISSN 2367-783X.
  • Administrative Structure and Local Government (1919–1941). – In: History of Kyustendil, Vol. II: Kyustendil in Modern Times (1878–1944). Faber Publishing, Sofia–Kyustendil, 2023, pp. 277–308. ISBN 978-954-2903-40-6.
  • Bulgarian Governance in Vardar Macedonia from a Socio-economic Perspective. – In: Bulgaria and Macedonia – History and Politics. Part Two. A New Path. Tangra Publishing. Sofia, 2023, pp. 203–224. ISBN 978-619-91801-2-9.
  • Macedonia in Yugoslav Statistics (1919–1939). – In: Historian, Public Figure, Patriot. Festschrift in Honor of Associate Professor Stoyan Germanov’s 85th Anniversary. Blagoevgrad, 2023, pp. 186–199. ISBN 978-619-7661-13-2.
  • Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (1944–1965): Economic Problems. – In: History, Memory, Change. Festschrift in Honor of Prof. Alexander Dimitrov. Printing House, Sofia, 2022, pp. 519–554. ISBN 978-954-2903-48-2.
  • Building the Socio-economic Structure of the Bulgarian Interim Government in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944). – Macedonian Review, 44/2 (2021), pp. 9–42. ISSN 0861-2277.
  • The Southern Front through the Eyes of British and French Military. – In: World War I and Bulgaria’s Exit (1918). Simolini 94 Publishing. Sofia, 2021, pp. 227–241. ISBN 978-954-2903-44-4.
  • Economic Problems of the Balkans on the Eve of the Wars. – Bulgarian Historical Review, 3–4 (2019), pp. 153–202. ISSN 0204-8906.
  • Impact of the Treaty of Neuilly on Bulgaria’s Socio-economic Condition after the Great War. – Macedonian Review, 3 (2019), pp. 95–108. ISSN 0861-2277.
  • „Black Gold“ and the War. – In: World War I in the Balkans and Bulgaria’s Participation in 1917. Proceedings of a National Scientific Conference with International Participation, December 6–7, 2017, Kyustendil. Sofia, 2019, pp. 311–325. ISBN 978-954-2903-35-2.
  • There Was No Bulgarian Occupation in Macedonia. – Bulletin The Bulgarians in the Balkans and the World, 7 (2019), pp. 15–18.
  • Serbian Economic Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1919–1939). – Macedonian Review, 1 (2017), pp. 43–66. ISSN 0861-2277.
  • History of Dupnitsa and the Dupnitsa Region. Economy Between the Two World Wars (1919–1944). Sofia, 2015, pp. 387–414. ISBN 978-954-8187-94-7.
  • Co-authored with Prof. Petar Petrov: Bulgarian Scientific Expeditions to Mount Athos in 1943. – Macedonian Review, 1 (2015), pp. 109–119. ISSN 0861-2277.
  • Economy and War. The Balkans in 1912–1913. – In: 100th Anniversary of the Balkan Wars, Sources and Documents. Sofia, 2015, pp. 131–140. ISBN 978-954-2903-17-8.
  • Foreign Finances and Investments – Examples from the Economic Life of the Balkans (1878–1913). – In: 110 Years since the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising and the Bulgarian National Idea from San Stefano to Bucharest (1878–1913). Sofia, 2014, pp. 343–355. ISBN 978-954-2903-11-6.
  • The Effectiveness of Southeast European Economic Institutions. – Available at: Academia.edu
  • Aspects of Bulgarian Socio-economic Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944). – In: The National Unification of Bulgaria (1940–1944). Sofia, 2012, pp. 285–296. ISBN 978-954-8187-86-2.
  • The Effectiveness of Economic Institutions in Southeastern Europe: The Cases of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria (1918–1944). – Anamnesis.info, 12 (2011).
  • The Image of the Balkan Neighbor in the Pages of a Bulgarian Newspaper from the Early 20th Century. – In: Ethnic and Religious Tolerance (Civil Society in Southeast Europe), Conference Proceedings. Sofia, 2011, pp. 226–233. ISBN 978-954-2946-02-1.
  • Public Assistance and Social Care in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944). – Annual of Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of History: Doctoral Readings – March 2006. Sofia, 2011, pp. 107–128.
  • Fiscal Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944). – Macedonian Review, 1 (2007), pp. 13–42. ISSN 0861-2277.
  • Health Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944). – Macedonian Review, 2 (2006), pp. 39–70. ISSN 0861-2277.

D. Academic Reviews and Information

  • Overview of „Macedonia: History and Culture from Antiquity to Today,” Vol. 1/2, 2024

E. Editorial Work

  • The Bridge of Salvation: The Transit of Jews Through Bulgaria During WWII – Documentary Collection
  • History of Dupnitsa and the Dupnitsa Region, Sofia, 2015, 624 pages, ISBN 978-954-8187-94-7
  • Rubakha. Yar. – Polish journal „Slavic World” on Bulgarian socio-political development, Vol. 1, Sofia, 2018, 268 pages with illustrations, ISBN 978-619-7377-05-7

4. Participation in Academic Forums

Dr. Nikiforova has presented at numerous national and international conferences from 2011 to 2024 on subjects including:

  • Agrarian reforms in the Balkans
  • Socio-economic crises and communism in Bulgaria
  • Economic issues of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
  • Historical memory and WWII
  • Balkan Wars and interwar investments
  • Bulgarian administration in Vardar Macedonia

• „The Cultural and Historical Heritage of Tutrakan and Its Place in the History of Dobrudja“, April 18–19, 2024, Tutrakan. Presentation: „The Property Rights of Bulgarians in Southern Dobrudja During the Interwar Period.“

• „Bulgaria, Europe and the World: Traditions and Transformations“, April 24–25, 2024, Sofia, Institute for Historical Studies. Presentation: „How Does an Agrarian Reform Succeed?“

• „The Western Bulgarian Borderlands – History and Perspectives“, November 8, 2024, Sofia, Institute for Historical Studies. Presentation: „The Dual Authority Issue on the Bulgarian–Yugoslav Border (1919–1939).“

• Jubilee Round Table „80 Years Since the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews“, March 9, 2023, Kyustendil. Organized by the Regional Historical Museum – Kyustendil, Institute for Historical Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Municipality of Kyustendil. Presentation: „The Documentary Collection ‘The Bridge of Salvation’: Bulgaria and the Transit of Jews During World War II.“

• „The Economic Culture of Bulgarians and the Example of Gabrovo in the 19th–21st Century“, Gabrovo, April 28–29, 2022. Presentation: „The Socio-Economic Crisis and the Rise of Communist Power in Bulgaria (1944–1947).“

• Solemn Conference on the 75th Anniversary of the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS: „Historical Science in the Contemporary World“, December 16, 2022, Sofia, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Grand Hall. Presentation: „Socio-Economic Problems of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.“

• „The Economic Culture of Bulgarians and the Example of Gabrovo in the 19th–21st Century“, Gabrovo, April 28–29, 2022. Presentation: „The Socio-Economic Crisis and the Rise of Communist Power in Bulgaria (1944–1947).“

• „Entrepreneurship in Historical Perspective“, Veliko Tarnovo, September 24–25, 2021. Presentation: „Benefactors from Macedonia – Avram Chalyovski and Todor Piperevski.“

• „The Bulgarians in the Western Balkans (100 Years Before and After the Treaty of Neuilly)“, National Scientific Conference with International Participation, under a project by the Research Fund – Ministry of Education and Science, Sofia, November 9, 2020. Presentation: „The Economic Problems of Tito’s Yugoslavia and Trade Contacts with Bulgaria (1943–1953).“

• National Scientific Conference with International Participation „100 Years Since the Treaty of Neuilly“, November 27, 2019, Sofia. Presentation: „The Impact of the Treaty of Neuilly on Bulgaria’s Socio-Economic Situation After the Great War.“

• International Scientific Conference „The First World War and Bulgaria’s Exit in 1918“, September 15–16, 2018, Doiran. Presentation: „The Southern Front Through the Eyes of British Military Personnel.“

• International Scientific Conference „The First World War in the Balkans and Bulgaria’s Participation (1917)“, December 6–8, 2017, Kyustendil. Presentation: „‘Black Gold’ and the War – Romanian Oil.“

• Scientific Conference „Spa Development in Bulgaria“, Institute for Historical Studies, BAS – 2016, Kyustendil. Presentation: „9th French Language School ‘Alphonse de Lamartine’ and Franco-Bulgarian Contacts in the 1960s and 1970s.“

• Round Table on Bulgarian Governance in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944), December 25, 2015, Strumitsa–Doiran. Presentation: „Several Economic Aspects.“

• Scientific Conference „Spa Development in Bulgaria“, Institute for Historical Studies, BAS – October 2015, Kyustendil. Presentation: „The Beginnings of Modern Balneology in Sapareva Banya.“

• International Conference on the Centenary of the Balkan Wars, November 10–12, 2013, Sofia and Rila Monastery. Presentation: „Economy and War: The Balkans 1912–1913.“

• „110 Years Since the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising and the Bulgarian National Idea from San Stefano to Bucharest (1878–1913)“, October 2–4, 2013, Sofia – Blagoevgrad. Presentation: „Foreign Finances and Investments – Examples from the Economic Life of the Balkans (1878–1913).“

• International Historical Conference „100 Years Since the Balkan Wars: Retrospections and Projections“, October 3–8, 2012, Sofia, GS Rakovski Military Academy. Presentation: „Economic Problems of the Balkans on the Eve of the Balkan Wars.“

• Scientific Conference „National Unification of Bulgaria 1939–1944“, April 14–15, 2011, Blagoevgrad, Regional Historical Museum. Presentation: „Aspects of Bulgarian Socio-Economic Policy in Vardar Macedonia (1941–1944).“