Georgy Fotev

Georgy Fotev is a Professor at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy and Department of Philosophy and Sociology. He has held significant roles including Director of the Institute of Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1990–2003) and Minister of Science and Higher Education (1990–1991). A Fulbright Professor at Duke University (1997–1998), he is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and holds honorary citizenship in Oklahoma, USA.

His education includes a degree in Philosophy from Sofia University (1968), a PhD (1986), and a Doctor of Sciences degree (1987), culminating in professorship in 1989.

Fotev's research focuses on sociological theory, political sociology, and post-communist transitions, with emphasis on Balkan societies, ethnic relations, and civil society. His work explores the interplay between globalization, cultural identity, and social fragmentation, particularly in Eastern European contexts. Key themes include religious coexistence, value systems in transitioning societies, and critiques of totalitarianism.

Recent publications (2006–2011) analyze Bulgarian societal transformation, melancholic cultural identity, and European integration challenges. His scholarship consistently addresses the nexus of historical legacies and contemporary social dynamics, with methodological emphasis on dialectical sociology and interdisciplinary approaches.

Awards and Honors:

• Annual Award of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences/Sofia University for Social Reality and Imagination
• Honorary Badge with Blue Ribbon (Sofia University)
• Distinguished Service Award (American University in Bulgaria, 2003)
• Hristo G. Danov Award for Humanities (2007)
• Honorary Citizen of Oklahoma, USA (1991)

He led the History of Sociology research section at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1986–2008) and served on governing boards of the American University in Bulgaria and New Bulgarian University. No specific student advising or grant details are documented in the source text.