History of Political Ideas and Institutions in the Balkans in the 19th and 20th Centuries

The proposed project is conceived as comparative historical research into the evolution of political ideas, institutions and systems in the Balkans over the past two centuries. One of its focuses will be tension and interaction between the traditional Balkan legacy and the systems and ideologies that made an impact on the processes of the Balkan nations’ emancipation and progression towards a European model. The purpose of the comparative emphasis is to recognize not only intra-regional variations but also the shared regional characteristics marking the evolution of political culture in the Balkans from the Ottoman legacy to a united Europe. Taking individual national frames (Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey) as a starting point, the research will pay special attention to trans-national movements arising either from analogous local initiatives or inspired by major ideologies. The origins and development of political elites, as well as the process of creating and training administrative cadres indispensable for the functioning of institutions, along with educational systems in general, will be another important focus of research. Attention will be paid to the ways of transferring west-European learning and experience, from traditional ones (schooling, literature, political contacts) to foreign military or administrative presence in the Balkans.