Bulgaria: Balkan Heavyweight, Eurasian Lightweight

Bulgaria is Europe's oldest country — it existed in roughly its modern form in A.D. 700, long before most of its fellow EU member states. This fact, however, is deceptive. While Bulgaria existed at an early date, it spent seven of the ensuing 13 centuries under foreign control. The country's favorable geography gives it the potential to dominate its smaller Balkan neighbors, but has also fated it to rule by three empires: the Byzantines, the Ottomans and the Soviet Union.

In the past, Bulgaria worked to protect its heartland in the Danubian Plain, south of the Danube River and north of the Balkan Mountains. When nearby Constantinople (or its successor, Istanbul) was weak or friendly, Bulgaria focused benefitting from the Thracian Plain's fertility and its position as a communication corridor between Europe and Asia. With the 19th century ascendance of both the European powers and the Russian Empire, Bulgaria found itself wedged in the middle and needing to balance both sides.

Today, Bulgaria is shielded by its membership in NATO as well as in the European Union. Under this protection, Sofia is building up its economic and military power. But both of these blocs are in precarious positions. In addition, Bulgaria's balance between Russia and Europe is delicate and Turkey is experiencing a resurgance. These factors mean that Bulgaria may once again become subject to foreign interests.