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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

My thoughts for the mass protests in Albania in an interview for Deutsche Welle: These protests are an attempt to renegotiate the social contract. The key question is not only how large the protests are, but whether this unprecedented civic energy can be transformed into lasting political change.

dw.com

Protestat në Shqipëri: "Qeveria duhet të pyesë veten “Pse?“

Protestat në Shqipëri janë në javën e dytë të organizimit. "Gen Z“ kërkon ndryshimin e kastës politike, një dukuri që ekspertët e shohin gjithnjë e më në rritje në Ballkan dhe më gjerë në botë.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Glad that our paper on workers’ protest in Europe is part of this fascinating special issue on new insights into global labour. We are in great company, with papers covering South Africa, Sweden, Belarus, Brazil, Lebanon, Germany, Italy, and beyond. Introduction 👇

tandfonline.com

New insights into global labour: movement strategy and mobilisation in the context of crisis

Published in Social Movement Studies (Ahead of Print, 2026)

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

This is how Bulgaria welcomes its Eurovision winner - DARA. Absolutely incredible. ❤️

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

🇧🇬 It seems like for the first time ever, #Bulgaria could win the #Eurovision Song Contest! Amazing performance by #Dara — and so much love from our Balkan neighbors in the YouTube comments. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mxq...

youtube.com

DARA - Bangaranga (LIVE) | Bulgaria 🇧🇬 | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2026

YouTube video by Eurovision Song Contest

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Read our new #KonKoop DataLab Blog post ⤵️ Celebrating diversity does not always equate to agency for ethnic minorities, researcher Tinatin Khomeriki finds. In her anthropological exploration of the Tbilisoba festival in #Georgia’s capital, she questions the 'souvenirisation' of cultural heritage.

Framing the "Other": The Exhibition of Diversity at Tbilisoba 2023 - KonKoop

At the end of September, the air in Abanotubani – Tbilisi’s historic bath district – thickens with the scent of wood smoke and grilling meat. The city is

Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

My thoughts on the political situation in Slovenia ↓

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Institut für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung (ipb) @protestinstitut.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Missed the last ipb debate on #GenZ in the Streets – #Protest, #Mobilisation, and Success in #Bulgaria and #Serbia? Here are a few impressions. Once again, many thanks to our speakers @ivodinev.bsky.social and Iskra Krstić, and Johanna Raphaela Wahl for the moderation 💐 More events: buff.ly/agLyHMc

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

We’ll be discussing the results of the Bulgarian elections on May 7th in the company of great scholars. Join us by writing to jean-michel.de.waele@ulb.be

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Slovenia just hit a political deadlock — and it could reshape the country’s direction. My recent analysis for ZOiS: www.zois-berlin.de/presse/exper...

Expert*innenstimme: Ivaylo Dinev

Nach der Parlamentswahl in Slowenien: Koalitionsgespräche scheitern

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Recent elections in Bulgaria make this debate especially timely. Join us!

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Elections in #Bulgaria confirms again the regime logic of "protest democracy". Since 1989, the system renewal with new political party and mass protests every 5-7 years. And yet, it is unclear what lies ahead.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Join us to discuss what is going on in Bulgaria and Serbia.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Let’s discuss two massive protest waves reshaping political dynamics in Serbia and Bulgaria and what they reveal about contemporary movements worldwide.

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Institut für Protest- und Bewegungsforschung (ipb) @protestinstitut.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Upcoming ipb debate 📣 On 23 April at 4:00 pm, @ivodinev.bsky.social ( @zois.bsky.social ) will speak about the #GenZ #protests in #Bulgaria and #Serbia, focusing on their aims and outcomes. Please register by April 22nd to participate in this online event: buff.ly/9acWinZ More info: buff.ly/eU9ChGS

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

“Serbia’s youth are protesting with a strategy that the West has almost forgotten.” I said this in an interview with the German outlet Krautreporter. More and more, I am convinced that the rest of the world has much to learn from the civic energy and democratic resilience of Balkan societies.

krautreporter.de

Serbiens Jugend protestiert mit einer Strategie, die der Westen fast vergessen hat

300.000 Menschen auf der Straße, eine eigene Wahlliste, klassenübergreifende Allianzen von Studierenden bis Landwirten: In Serbien wächst eine Protestbewegung, die das Vučić-Regime bedroht.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

It will be a pleasure to discuss the protest waves in the Balkan region at the American University in Bulgaria.

Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Our open-access article in @socmovstudies.bsky.social presents new dataset of workers’ protests in Europe since Covid-19. We find: • High levels of protest • Two alliance patterns • Diverging protest repertoires • Cross-national differences in public vs. private sector mobilization

tandfonline.com

Labour unrest in the context of multiple crises: a comparative perspective of Europe

By presenting the first comparative data of trade union and workers’ protests since Covid-19, based on local sources, this article attempts to fill a significant gap in the empirical research on cr...

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Thursday the 5th of February at 18:00 Registration: jean-michel.de.waele@ulb.be

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Some Gen Z protest waves fail to translate into political outcomes, while others succeed. Bulgaria’s ended with a government resignation in under 3 weeks. I discuss the key factors that made this protest a success story: from organisation to political opportunity. Spotlight for @zois.bsky.social

Why Bulgaria Became a Success Story for the Gen Z Protests

ZOiS Spotlight 2/2026 | Ivaylo Dinev

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

What is going on in Bulgaria? An in-depth article by the independent Spanish media CTXT, including an interview with me, on the mass protests, the role of Gen Z, and the current political crisis.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

What just happened in Bulgaria and what other countries can learn from it: In just two weeks, mass protests forced the government to resign. Five key strategies👇

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Mass protests in Bulgaria forced a government resignation, showing their effectiveness. Yet resignations often act as safety valves, letting ruling parties to regroup. Since 1989, this has locked the country in a recurring cycle of crisis and protest without breaking underlying power structures.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Tonight, Sofia is seeing its largest demonstration since 1990. Rallies are unfolding across the country against state capture and corruption, demanding the government’s resignation and new elections.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

TikTok has changed the game. 100,000–150,000 people from diverse backgrounds protested in Bulgaria mobilised mainly through TikTok by influencers, activists, and the opposition. The platform has become a central engine for rapid mass mobilisation. What does this mean for social movement studies?

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

The law of Bulgarian democracy: the arrogance of the political class is restrained only by mass protest. At least 50,000 people marched yesterday in Sofia, with several thousand more in cities across the country.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Democracy without protests? In parts of Europe, that’s unimaginable. Protest is not an isolated episode – it has shaped the political order for almost four decades through recurring cycles of crisis, mobilization, and renewal. I call it protest democracy. Read it here in @zois.bsky.social Spotlight👇

When Protest Becomes a Mode of Politics

ZOiS Spotlight 17/2025 by Ivaylo Dinev

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Our new article is out in Social Movement Studies! We compare workers’ protests in Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy & Romania – from protest tactics to building alliances after Covid-19. It presents the first comparative data of workers’ protests since Covid-19, based on local sources.

tandfonline.com

Labour unrest in the context of multiple crises: a comparative perspective of Europe

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Discuss Data in Bremen and Göttingen provides a ‘safe haven’ for research data on and from the countries in Eastern Europe thus establishing an interactive, community-led platform for like-minded researchers. Eduard Klein tells more about Discuss Data’s history and activities.

DataLab BLOG: The Story of Discuss Data – a Unique Data Hub for Scholars Working on Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia - KonKoop

What solutions do we have when statistics are censored and manipulated and space for academic freedom and discussion is shrinking? Discuss Data in Bremen and Göttingen provides a ‘safe haven’ for rese...

Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

In 2013, we rose against the oligarchic model in Bulgaria and demanded morality in politics — what dreamers we were! For months we occupied universities and filled the streets. The Balkans carry a long tradition of student movements. An interview for the Bulgarian National Radio.

bnr.bg

Протест, морал и приятелство: Наследството на ”Ранобудните”

В рубриката "Разговорът" в ефира на БНР двама от лидерите на студентската окупация от 2013 г. – Ивайло Динев и Лазар Петков...

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

The protests against the way the judicial system is being weaponised are a part of a new protest cycle – but won’t be the peak of it,” predicted Ivaylo Dinev, a researcher at the Centre for East European and International Studies in Berlin.

balkaninsight.com

Bulgarians Ride New Protest Wave, But Question Potential Impact

Bulgarians are again on the streets demanding change – but whether this popular anti-establishment movement will succeed where earlier ones failed is an open question.

Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Gave an interview to Bulgarian National Radio on the ongoing anti-corruption protests and the previous in 2013 and 2020. In summary: Bulgaria is stuck in a repeating cycle—political crisis, protests, new formations, new crisis, more protests. This has continued since the transition.

bnr.bg

Ивайло Динев: Протестите се повтарят, защото не се направи преосноваване на демокрацията

"България преповтаря един и същи цикъл. Намираме се в кръг, от който няма изход – политическа криза, протести, леко...

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Jelena Brankovic @jelena3121.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Students and citizens in #Serbia are being arrested, beaten, and declared enemies of the state for opposing Vučić's authoritarian regime. Academic colleagues anywhere in the world, please sign this petition in solidarity with them & spread the message.

docs.google.com

International Academic Appeal Against Repression in Serbia

We, members of the Serbian academic diaspora and our colleagues from the international academic community, are raising our voices in strong condemnation of the escalating violence, repression, and int...

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

New publication in the DataLab Blog by Guenola Inizan!

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Our new publication by Gaëlle Le Pavic (Ghent University and United Nations University – CRIS).

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

My analysis of the presidential election in Romania: Simion's high results in the first round are a signal for further restructuring of the political landscape across the region. The multiple crisis creates an opportunity for anti-establishment parties.

Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

How many people protested? It's not just a matter of numbers—it’s a question of legitimacy and power. 🎙️ New episode of Roundtable Osteuropa with Kerstin Bischl, Felix Herrmann (DiscussData), and me — on the goals, opportunities, and challenges of researching Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Visibility, Access, Power: Why research data infrastructure matters

With Felix Herrmann, Ivaylo Dinev and Kerstin Bischl

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Zentrum für Osteuropa- und internationale Studien (ZOiS) @zois.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

#KoDaNetOst, a new project by @centremarcbloch.bsky.social, @ecmiflensburg.bsky.social & ZOiS, was launched with a workshop & website. Its aims: making #data for social sciences & humanities accessible & discussing means for sustainable collaboration with partners in Eastern Europe: bit.ly/4liXXor

Group photo from KoDaNetOst, 17 people looking at the camera.

Photo from KoDaNetOst kickoff workshop at the ZOiS library, ZOiS researcher Sabine von Löwis is standing on the stage with a microphone, holding a powerpoint presentation, the photo is taken from the perspective of the audience, some audience members are in the image, listening to the presentation.

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Link for registration: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

📢 New publication! Constructing ‘the people’ often signals a political stance. Bojidar Kolov examines how this reference carries different political implications—illustrated through the migration debate in Europe and the political theology of the Russian Orthodox Church.

DataLab BLOG: Constructing ‘the People’: Strategies, Modes, Scales

What does it mean when a political actor refers to ‘the people’? Where do we locate him or her in a political discourse? Bojidar Kolov presents a model that could help answer these questions and much ...

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Discuss Data @discussdata.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Reminder for the #CfA for our very first #DiscussDataLab on „Challenges of Data Collection, Re-use, and Analysis: Public Opinion, Political Debates, and Protests in the Context of the Russo-Ukrainian War“ that will take place in Bremen from 25-27.08.2025. Info & application: discuss-data.net#datalab

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

I'm glad to contribute to this new blog, which aims to explore Eastern and Central Europe, as well as the Balkans, from a scientific perspective. My first essay focuses on the recent developments in Serbia. views-from-central-and-balkan-countries.eu/the-largest-...

views-from-central-and-balkan-countries.eu

The Largest Protest in Serbia’s History. – Views from Central Europe and the Balkans

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Ivaylo Dinev @ivodinev.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

📢 New public research resource! Looking for data on conflict & cooperation in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus? I compile key datasets and platforms on armed conflicts, public opinion, elections and more. Explore now: konkoop.de/index.php/da...