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We are proud to announce that the third book with the results of the project has been published – a scientific collection “Risks in Contemporary Society” (in Bulgarian “Рискове в съвременното общество”), compiled and scientifically edited by Prof. Anna Mantarova, PhD, and Prof. Maxim Mizov, PhD. The publication brings together the papers presented at the scientific conference of the same name, held within the framework of the project “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Prevention and Management of Risks”, funded by the Bulgarian National Scientific Fund.

The collection offers a multi-layered view of risks in modern society – from political, social and economic to environmental and technological. The authors explore various aspects of risk processes and mechanisms for their understanding, prevention and management – both at the individual and institutional levels.

The content includes the following studies:

• Toni Dimov – Strategic Planning “Blindly” – a Fundamental Risk for the Development of the Bulgarian State and Society
• Lyuba Spasova – From Vulnerability to Risk: Structural Inequalities and Strategies for Coping with Disasters
• Maxim Mizov – Political Risks and Career “Alpinism” of the Personality
• Rada Smedovska-Toneva – Culture of Risk Thinking in the Security Sphere
• Anna Mantarova, Plamena Yovchevska – Agriculture: Today’s Problems and Risks with a Genesis Back in Time
• Mihaela Stoilova – Risks and Challenges Facing Local Economic Development in Bulgaria
• Daniela Vasileva – Environmental Risks and Civil Inaction
• Nako Stefanov, Stylianos Herodotu – Neoliberal Capitalism on the Platform of the Fourth Technological Revolution and the Risks for Humanity – the Marxist view
• Mariela Modeva – Risks and prospects in the use of artificial intelligence in tourism
• Vladislav Gospodinov – Risks facing Bulgarian education until 2035
• Iglika Angelova – Formation of social skills for the prevention of aggression, violence and bullying through digital games at early school age
• Ana Popova – Social risks and challenges facing families of labor migrants
• Agnieszka Wrochalska – Demographic challenges in Poland
• Anna Drenska, Veronika Predzarova – The risk of spiritual extinction: devaluation or resilience of the personality in the conditions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (on the example of the performance art “anti-performance”)

The publication (ISBN 978-954-9865-24-0) is distinguished by an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the need for integrated strategies for dealing with risks in the dynamic context of modern society.

📘 “Risks in Modern Society”, Sofia, 2025
Compilers and scientific editors: Prof. Anna Mantarova, PhD, Prof. Maxim Mizov
Reviewers: Prof. Valentina Milenkova, PhD, Prof. Maya Keliyan
Cover design: Dr. Alexander Dimitrov

Link to the online version of the collection.

On September 17, 2025, Dr. Bilyana Ivanova held a seminar for Law students at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE).

The seminar was dedicated to the presentation of results from the project “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Prevention and Management of Risks”, funded by the Scientific Research Fund. The main emphasis was placed on the topics of legal awareness, crime and social risks, as well as the connections between legal culture, social attitudes and mechanisms for dealing with uncertainty.

The event took the form of an interactive seminar with the active participation of students, who discussed real cases related to legal regulation and social justice. Through a dialogical approach, the possibilities for integrating the scientific conclusions from the project into legal education and the understanding of the role of law in modern society were outlined.

The seminar was met with high interest and contributed to the popularization of the project results among the academic community and future legal specialists.

On September 10, 2025, the scientific conference “Scientific Conference “Risks in Contemporary Society” was held in the Ivan Geshov Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, organized within the framework of the project “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Prevention and Management of Risks”, funded by the Scientific Research Fund and implemented with the support of the Humanity Foundation.

The conference was opened by Prof. Anna Mantarova, PhD, project manager, who emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing risks in modern society. The forum presented research analyzing social, political, economic, technological and environmental dimensions of risk, as well as personal and institutional strategies for dealing with them. The scientific program included contributions from:

• Toni Dimov
• Rada Smedovska-Toneva
• Maxim Mizov
• Nako Stefanov and Stylianos Herodotu
• Mihaela Stoilova
• Plamena Yovchevska and Anna Mantarova
• Mariela Modeva
• Daniela Vasileva
• Lyuba Spasova
• Vladislav Gospodinov
• Iglika Angelova
• Agnieszka Wrochalska
• Anna Popova
• Anna Drenska and Veronika Predzarova

In the final discussion, the participants outlined the need for closer cooperation between science, institutions and civil society in building a culture of awareness and risk management.

The conference ended with a discussion of the possibilities for continuing scientific exchange and publishing the results in the thematic collection “Risks in Modern Society” (Sofia, 2025).

In the period 25–29 August 2025, Prof. Plamena Yovchevska, PhD, conducted a series of project seminars dedicated to current issues and challenges facing the agricultural sector. The meetings took place in the city of Stara Zagora and attracted representatives of the Farmers Association from Kyustendil district and the municipalities of Blagoevgrad and Samokov, as well as the United Bulgarian Livestock Breeders Association.

During the seminars, the main results of the project were presented, as well as good practices and examples from the country and abroad. Emphasis was placed on the results related to the risks in agriculture and the opportunities for the sustainable development of the sector.

The participants actively participated in the discussions, asked questions and shared experience from their practice. The conversations turned into lively discussions that continued beyond the official program. They confirmed the importance of the topic and the need for such initiatives, which create a platform for dialogue between the scientific community, farmers and institutions.

The seminars contributed to enriching knowledge and creating new contacts and partnerships, and the results achieved showed that cooperation between academia and practitioners is key to addressing challenges in agriculture.

Earlier this month, Prof. Anna Mantarova, DSc, gave a lecture to students at the Higher School of Security and Economics in Plovdiv. She presented the main results of the project to an audience of several courses in the Security field. The lecture was met with interest, with students asking questions and sharing their impressions and observations.

The seminar contributed to enriching the students’ preparation by giving them the opportunity to connect theoretical knowledge with real examples and current challenges.

The scientific collection “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Risk Management” has been published, edited by Prof. Anna Mantarova, PhD, and reviewed by Prof. Maya Keliyan, PhD, and Prof. Stefka Naumova, PhD. The publication was prepared within the framework of the project “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Risk Prevention and Management”, funded by the Scientific Research Fund.

The collection includes texts analyzing various social, economic, cultural and political dimensions of risk in modern society, examining the processes of their awareness, communication and management at both the individual and institutional levels. The research in the publication offers an interdisciplinary reading of the risk society and the mechanisms for dealing with uncertainty and crises in the modern world.

The following authors and topics are included in the publication:

• Rada Smedovska-Toneva – Institutional Dimensions of Risk and Security Policies
• Toni Dimov – Political and Management Risks in Bulgarian Society
• Plamena Yovchevska – Economic Risks and Institutional Management Mechanisms
• Anna Mantarova – Institutional Strategies for Reducing Vulnerability and Social Inequalities
• Mihaela Stoilova – Local Development and Risks to Community Resilience
• Bilyana Ivanova-Nanova – Personal Risks and Social Perception of Insecurity
• Vladislav Gospodinov – Risks in the Education System and Challenges for Young People
• Daniela Vasileva – Civic Participation and Environmental Risks
• Anna Drenska and Veronika Predzarova – The Risk of Spiritual Erosion in Contemporary Culture
• Lyuba Spasova – Social Inequalities and Coping Strategies in the Context of Disasters and Crises
• Rada Smedovska-Toneva – Culture of Risk Thinking and Security

The collection was published by Bulgarresurs.com (Sofia, 2025), with ISBN 978-954-8885-55-3, and represents a significant result of the work of the scientific team on the project.

The publication is intended for researchers, teachers and practitioners involved in the problems of risk, security and crisis management, as well as for all those interested in new approaches to building a sustainable and adaptive social environment.

📘 “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Risk Management”, Sofia, 2025
Editor: Prof. Dr. Anna Mantarova
Reviewers: Prof. Dr. Maya Keliyan, Prof. Dr. Stefka Naumova

Link to the electronic version of the collection.

Between 6 and 11 July 2025, the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology took place in Rabat, Morocco, bringing together researchers from around the world to discuss pressing social challenges and inequalities.
Dr. Lyuba Spasova from the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciencesparticipated in the Forum with a presentation entitled “Workplace Discrimination in Bulgaria: Trends, Risk Factors, and Coping Mechanisms.”

The paper presents findings from research conducted under the project “Personal and Institutional Strategies for Risk Prevention and Management,” funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF). The study explores workplace discrimination in Bulgaria within the context of growing labor insecurity, focusing on discriminatory trends during recruitment processes and in everyday workplace interactions.

It examines the intersections of protected characteristics such as gender, age, ethnicity, and disability, showing how discrimination manifests and accumulates across multiple dimensions. The study also assesses public awareness of anti-discrimination rights and identifies the coping strategies individuals employ to address workplace discrimination.

The findings reveal that women with children and persons with disabilities face increased risks of discrimination during hiring, while older workers and ethnic minorities experience more unequal treatment within established employment relationships.

The study highlights low legal awareness and limited institutional responsiveness to cases of discrimination, as well as a lack of trust in institutions – many individuals refrain from seeking assistance or choose to consult a lawyer directly, reflecting an organizational culture that often normalizes discriminatory practices.

Dr. Spasova’s presentation was part of the session “Power, Inequalities and Social Representations” organized by RC26 Sociotechnics, Sociological Practice.

A seminar on the project was held at the New Bulgarian University, where the main results and data from the research were presented. The participants were mostly young people who were more advanced in their studies, which contributed to a more in-depth and professionally focused conversation. The meeting was active and in a dialogical atmosphere, as individuals had the opportunity to ask questions, discuss specific examples and receive personalized answers and guidance.

The seminar showed that even with a limited number of participants, the benefits of such events are significant, as it allows for a more in-depth conversation and individual exchange of ideas.

Results of the project were presented to students from the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” at a seminar held by Dr. Ana Popova on 17.10.2024 on the topic “Prevention and Management of Social Risks for Families and Their Children”.

The students showed interest in the research data and held an in-depth discussion on possible interpretations of the results.

The field stage of research among agricultural producers aimed at analyzing the methods of assessing and managing risks in the sector was successfully completed. During the fieldwork, our team conducted in-depth interviews and a survey with investors and workers in the sector, gathering valuable information about their experiences and attitudes towards the various risks. The research aims to support a better understanding of the strategies implemented by state institutions and economic entities that work in conditions of instability caused by natural and environmental factors.

The collected data will be systematized and analyzed to establish personal and institutional strategies as well as actual practices in risk management. Particular attention will be paid to the role of prosocial behavior and organizational forms that can integrate volunteering into institutional action. Attitudes to prevention and protection from consequences will be analyzed in the socio-cultural context in order to outline optimal solutions that combine the capabilities of social entities with the necessary efficiency.

Based on our findings, practical mechanisms will be proposed to ensure that policies and legislation in the field of risk management are based on reliable data and scientific evidence.