Black Sea Security Initiative

Introduction:

The Black Sea Security Initiative aims to advance and disseminate knowledge on the security, economic, and political evolution of countries in an area of increasing geopolitical importance. It seeks to promote public engagement and foster a deeper understanding of the threats to security and democratization in Balkan and former Soviet states. The urgency to improve such knowledge has risen exponentially after Russia initiated an unprecedented invasion of Ukraine in 2022, challenging the existing international order and its institutions. These developments occur in a critical geographic intersection between Europe and Asia, where countries with fragile democratic systems, energy dependence, and frozen conflicts coexist.

Description:

The geographic scope of the Black Sea Security Initiative (BSSI) encompasses the Black Sea region broadly defined, including littoral states and beyond. These countries vary in several ways – some have recently become more authoritarian, while others have clearly made significant progress toward democracy. Romania and Bulgaria have been EU members since 2007, while states in the Western Balkans and the South Caucasus are at different stages of achieving closer integration with Western economic and political structures. In terms of security, several Black Sea countries form NATO’s southeast flank, while a few others remain outside of the NATO umbrella and thus vulnerable to an increasingly aggressive Russia.

Thematically, the BSSI concentrates on accumulating knowledge about the political, economic, and cultural relationships between states in the Black Sea Economic Zone and their interactions with other geopolitical actors. One area of particular attention includes the policies pursued by NATO, the European Union, and the United States toward the Black Sea. The initiative will engage in thoughtful and dynamic discussions with scholars, top-level policymakers, and analysts from the region, Europe, and beyond.

Our areas of focus include:

  • Regional security, defense, and military policies
  • Domestic politics, society, and ethnic conflict
  • Challenges: economies, energy supply, and corruption
  • Integration into the European Union and NATO

The BSSI supports a range of activities with outreach to the university and the wider Miami communities. Within the framework of the European & Eurasian Studies Program, it will seek collaboration with other FIU centers and initiatives, including the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy, the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, and the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center.

Forms of work:

  • Panel discussions and public debates on contemporary topics
  • Webinars and workshops providing updates on current developments
  • Advising for incoming students, focusing their studies on the Black Sea region Connecting faculty from FIU and scholars from the region to promote collaborative work

Affiliated Scholars

  • Tatiana Kostadinova
  • David Kramer
  • Besiki Kutateladze
  • Nino Evgenidze