Institution
Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary), Doctoral School of International Relations and Political Science.
Dissertation Title
Power Perception and Conflict Prevention in the Black Sea Region: The EU, Russia and Turkey (defended: 2024; Podcast)
Field of expertise
Conflict Prevention, Power Perception, International Relations: Research, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Security Strategies, Comparative Analysis, EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Russia, Türkiye / Turkey, Strategic Communication, Power Competition, Political Analysis.
Languages
Bulgarian (C2), English (C2), Spanish (C1), Russian (C1), Hungarian (B1).
What did the ESDC Doctoral School provide for you during your PhD program?
The ESDC Doctoral School gave me the opportunity to purposefully design my PhD dissertation to serve the EEAS, especially the units dealing with the EU’s next foreign and security policy strategy. From a geopolitical perspective, my research is suitable for the units working with the Black Sea region, EaP, Central Asia, Russia and Türkiye, the Western Balkans. From a horizontal perspective, it is suitable to PSC, conflict prevention and strategic communications. As a result of my ESDC experience, I developed academic research on conflict prevention and power perception, suggesting improved IR theory to serve EU diplomacy.
The ESDC Doctoral School on CSDP / CFSP provided me with practical knowledge on the narrow field of my academic research – the development of EU’s foreign and security policy strategies, 2003 European Security Strategy, 2016 Global Strategy, 2022 Strategic Compass, diplomatic relations with Russia and with Türkiye. Particularly, the ESDC Doctoral School gave me opportunities to upgrade my research by up-to-date training with EU diplomats and civil servants from related EU institutions – the EEAS, EUISS, EU Council, EDA, EP, European Commission and its agencies. Over the course of four years, I attended numerous strategic trainings on EU’s foreign and security policy, including the Advanced Diplomacy Course, and the High Level Course Jean Rey, along with representatives of the EEAS, MFAs, MoDs, and EU institutions. As an ESDC Faculty Member, I was supporting the organisation of the modules in Brussels (Royal Military Academy) and in Madrid (CESEDEN). On the research side, the ESDC provided a field for presenting my research results in academic conferences, moderating sessions, receiving and providing constructive feedback, and interacting with colleague-researchers on topics of EU security and defence. As a result of consistent constructive communication within the ESDC professional network, we published peer-reviewed joint academic publications.
Current occupation and future goals
Currently, I am a researcher at LSE IDEAS - the Foreign Policy Think Tank of the London School of Economics and Political Science, dealing with international relations and global strategies. As a proof of its high academic quality, Dr Nathalie Tocci who drafted the EU Global Strategy 2016 is an LSE PhD graduate in International Relations. My purpose at LSE IDEAS is to apply my PhD research to a case study country, details here.
The ESDC Doctoral School is an excellent network of related professionals. Each ESDC PhD Fellow creates a great piece of EU research, and the next logical step is to convert it into practical EU action. My next career goal is to join the diplomatic service of the EU - the EEAS, and to apply my academic and practical skills to further developing the EU’s strategic goals. This will be beneficial for the EU’s foreign and security policy, based on my tailored activities as an ESDC PhD Fellow.
To sum up, the ESDC Doctoral School adds an excellent up-to-date practical contribution for any academic researcher who is determined to serve the EU CFSP / CSDP, through their PhD experience, and with the achieved results. As such, I am looking forward to applying my PhD results in improving the next Foreign and Security Policy Strategies of the EU, through the EEAS and the Commission services.
Anything else you would like to share?
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr. Foteini Asderaki (UniPi, Greece), the ESDC Doctoral School Chair, for her strong commitment to develop the ESDC Doctoral School network as an EU beneficial interaction between EU security practitioners, established academics, and contemporary researchers. I am thankful to my amazing supervisors Prof. Dr. Anna Molnar (UPS-Hungary) and Prof. Dr. Christopher Walsh (CUB-Hungary), and all academics, mentors, colleagues and PhD fellows within the ESDC network. Sincere congratulations to the persons undertaking the posts of ESDC Head and Doctoral School Coordinator through the years. The ESDC Doctoral School is an initiative of high value, constantly developing, in the best interest of the EU’s CFSP and CSDP.
Related publications
Kirilova, N. (2022). Elements of Power in the EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy. In: Molnár A., Fiott D., Asderaki F., Paile-Calvo S. (eds.). Challenges of the Common Security and Defence Policy. ESDC 2nd Summer University Book, pp.55-77, 22p. Doctoral School on CSDP. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Kirilova, N. (2023). Control of the Black Sea Straits: the Kerch Incident. Maritime Security and Psychology Drama Triangle of Ukraine, Russia and NATO, Türkiye and the EU. Journal Pro Publico Bono – Public Administration Vol.11(2023/3), pp.137-160, 23p. Ludovika Egyetemi Kiadó. ISSN: 2063-9058 (print). ISSN 2063-9066 (online).
Kirilova, N.V. (2024). Regional Conflict Prevention and Perceived Power Competition: Six Elements of Power. In: Pietrzak, P. (ed.), Analyzing Global Responses to Contemporary Regional Conflicts, pp.252-274, 22p. IGI Global: USA. ISBN13: 9798369328378
Kirilova, N.(2025, accepted). Conflict prevention in the EU’sforeign and security policy: youth andregionalism. In: ESDC 3rd Summer University Book. European Doctoral School on CSDP. European Security and Defence College. 24pp. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Kirilova, N. (2025, accepted). Russia’s Power Perception: Foreign Policy Concept and National Security Strategy. In: ESDC 4th Summer University Book. European Doctoral School on CSDP. European Security and Defence College. 29pp. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Kirilova, N.V. (2025, accepted). Türkiye's Foreign Policy Strategy: Name Change and Perceived Power Elements. The Turkic Communities as a Conflict Trigger. In: Pietrzak, P. (ed.), Stregthening International Relations Through Transformative Theory and Practice. 20pp. IGI Global: USA.