COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGIES OF BULGARIA, THE USA, RUSSIA AND CHINA THROUGH THE PRISM OF KEY SECURITY THEORIES

Abstract

In the context of accelerated geopolitical confrontation, militarization of technology, and the “extension” of security to economic, cyber, and societal dimensions, the study of different national security strategies allows us to understand not only what states say in their strategies, but also why they say it. This is critically important for security decision-makers as it will help them anticipate potential conflicts or areas of cooperation, recognizing when a state is acting out of fear (realism), when out of ideology (constructivism), and when out of pragmatic interest (liberalism). The analysis in this report focuses on examining the similarities and differences between the national security strategies of Bulgaria, the United States, Russia, and China, refracted through the prism of the key security theories: realism/neorealism, liberalism/ neoliberalism, constructivism, and the Copenhagen School. Each of the countries mentioned is of a different caliber and geopolitical weight, but the choice is not accidental. The United States, Russia, and China represent the three main “power centers” of the modern world, and Bulgaria is the analytical “prism” through which to see how global tremors are felt at the local level.

The study is based on a review of official national security strategy documents and related doctrinal and sectoral policies in the areas of defense, cybersecurity, and international/foreign policy. The analysis integrates contemporary scholarly insights into the transformation of operational art and hybrid operations, emphasizing the need for doctrinal adaptability and theoretical clarity in a context of increasing strategic uncertainty.