The Vulnerability Index 2021 is a pilot study by GLOBSEC, in partnership with the Center for the Study of Democracy. The Index evaluates the vulnerability towards foreign influence of authoritarian states such as Russia and China in eight Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. The assessment covers five vulnerability dimensions – public attitudes, political landscape, public administration, information landscape, and civic and academic space.

The Bulgarian country report shows that the country is among the most vulnerable cases due to the widespread pro-Russian public attitudes and Russia-influence information landscape that play a strong role in the formation of the overall public perceptions. The country’s deep-seated historical and cultural ties with Russia underpin this susceptibility. In addition, from the EU countries covered by the Index, the Bulgarian political landscape is assessed as the most pro-Russian and least pro-NATO. Despite these vulnerabilities, Bulgaria also displays several points of resilience. Its civic and academic space has endured and provides the vital function of being the country’s democratic watchdog despite frequent attacks and demonizing campaigns.

The Comparative report and all country's reports are available on the GLOBSEC website here.