Bulgaria in British foreign policy 1943-1949
The thesis analyses Britain's political involvement in Bulgaria during 1943 - 1949. It explores Britain's motives for seeking increased influence in the country and traces the most significant British attempts to shape Bulgarian politics. It examines British strategic decisions and diplomatic activities in Bulgaria against the background of the evolving domestic political situation and of Soviet objectives in the Balkans. Evidence from British archives is tested against recently released Bulgarian and Russian sources. The study clarifies problems central to the interpretation of post-war Bulgarian developments and addresses the question of British attitudes to the whole of Eastern Europe. Bulgaria's marginal place in British political and military thinking is found to be at odds with the country's recognised strategic importance. Towards the end of the Second World War, Bulgaria attracted the attention of the British Government occasionally, mostly in the context of broader regional issues such as that of the Balkan Federation. Although the realisation of limited capabilities to influence Bulgarian developments coloured Britain's wartime approach, never did British policy makers disavow interest in Bulgarian
Stankova, Marietta
Bulgarian; Soviet Union; Balkans; Cold War
Bulgaria in British foreign policy 1943-1949. The thesis analyses Britain's political involvement in Bulgaria during 1943 - 1949. It explores Britain's motives for seeking increased influence in the country and traces the most significant British attempts to shape Bulgarian politics. It examines British strategic decisions and diplomatic activities in Bulgaria against the background of the evolving domestic political situation and of Soviet objectives in the Balkans. Evidence from British archives is tested against recently released Bulgarian and Russian sources. The study clarifies problems central to the interpretation of post-war Bulgarian developments and addresses the question of British attitudes to the whole of Eastern Europe. Bulgaria's marginal place in British political and military thinking is found to be at odds with the country's recognised strategic importance. Towards the end of the Second World War, Bulgaria attracted the attention of the British Government occasionally, mostly in the context of broader regional issues such as that of the Balkan Federation. Although the realisation of limited capabilities to influence Bulgarian developments coloured Britain's wartime approach, never did British policy makers disavow interest in Bulgarian
bulgaria british_foreign_policy analysis britain political_involvement bulgaria explores britain motif seek increased influence country trace significant british attempt shape bulgarian politics examines british strategic decision diplomatic activity bulgaria background evolve domestic_political situation soviet objectives balkans evidence british archive test recently release bulgarian russian source study clarifies problem central interpretation post_war bulgarian development address_question british_attitude whole eastern_europe bulgaria marginal place british political_military thinking find odds country recognise strategic_importance towards_end second_world_war bulgaria attract_attention british_government occasionally mostly context broad_regional issue balkan federation although realisation limit capability influence bulgarian development colour britain wartime never british_policy maker interest bulgarian