Irena Bokova

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irena Bokova is an Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology, New Bulgarian University (NBU), Sofia. She holds a PhD in Folklore Studies and habilitation in Cultural Anthropology. Her professional roles include serving as Chair of the Department of Anthropology (2006), Deputy Dean of the Faculty of General Education (2006–2009), and member of various academic councils. She has conducted extensive fieldwork across Bulgaria, France, Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Switzerland, focusing on urban studies, cultural heritage, collective identities, and tourism anthropology.

Education: PhD in Folklore Studies (1992), habilitation in Folklore (1999), and habilitation in Cultural Anthropology (2005). She has held visiting lectureships at Lyon 2 University, University of Fribourg, and others. Research interests include intangible cultural heritage, urban anthropology, intercultural dialogue, and tourism. She has led projects such as the Summer School for Anthropology and coordinated initiatives like the International Tourism Exhibition on Cultural Tourism.

Her research trends emphasize the interplay between cultural heritage and local development, urban cultural landscapes, and the social dynamics of identity construction. She has authored monographs, edited volumes, and articles on topics ranging from Bulgarian Catholics to regional development through cultural resources. Her recent work explores cultural diversity, heritage management, and the role of museums in public discourse.