[Past and Present of Bulgarian Studies at the University of Belgrade

Abstract

This article aims to outline the main stages in the development of Bulgarian studies at the University of Belgrade, as well as to describe its current state, without claiming to be exhaustive. The first stage of the development of the specialty could rather be considered a preparatory stage in the development of Bulgarian studies as we know it today. The second stage is marked by the scientific work of Marin Mladenov and the development of mainly literary Bulgarian studies. In the third stage, the emphasis is placed on the linguistic Bulgarian studies by Mariana Aleksic, as the teaching staff expands. Today, the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade is the only place in Serbia where Bulgarian studies exist as a separate specialty within the Department of Serbian with South Slavic Languages. The Bulgarian language is also studied as an elective discipline (twosemester and four-semester), and almost all Bulgarian disciplines can be studied as electives by students from other specialties. It could be said that Belgrade Bulgarian studies today strive to soon achieve the much-needed balance in the presence of specialists in the field of literature and language.