Threat Perceptions in Southern Europe: The Case of Bulgaria

Abstract

The classical concept of national security is associated with the capacity of a state to defend itself against various kinds of threats, to safeguard its integrity and sovereignty and to guarantee the prosperity of its people. Subordinated to that need are the state’s economic and social policies, diplomatic strategy and military doctrine. The definition of national security adopted by a group of experts on the concepts of security with the UN is also in this spirit. According to it, security, by principle, is a condition in which the states consider that there is no danger of a military attack, political pressure or economic coercion, and therefore they are able to proceed freely with their development and progress.¹