The Journal of Balkan and Black Sea Studies is an Istanbul-based journal that aims to enhance academic exchange among social scientists from Turkey, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Eastern European countries. We initiated the journal in 2018 and have since published ten issues. The current, eleventh issue comprises five research articles and two book reviews.

The inaugural research article in this issue, titled "The Ottoman Dracula: Kazıklı Voyvoda and the Construction of the Rebel and Evil in the Ottoman Empire" by Adrian Gheorghe, delves into the portrayal of the rebellious Romanian prince from the 15th century in Ottoman historical narratives spanning the 15th to 18th centuries. Gheorghe seeks to uncover potential links between the depiction of Dracula in German-speaking Europe and Ottoman historical accounts.

The second research article in this issue, titled "İsrail-Filistin Sorunu Gölgesinde Unutulan Bir Halk: İsrail Çerkeslerinin Sosyal Entegrasyonları ve Sorunları" by Emir Fatih Akbulat, addresses the overlooked Circassian community residing in Israel. The Circassians were historically settled in the region during the Ottoman era, and after the establishment of Israel, they encountered a new government and language. The author highlights that despite facing discrimination due to their Muslim faith, similar to other Muslims, the Circassians have managed to establish positive relations with Israeli authorities and have been employed in roles such as soldiers or policemen.

The third research article in this issue, titled "Negotiating Values: Diyanet and the Syrian Refugee Crisis" by Iulia-Alexandra Oprea, explores the role of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and its Friday sermons advocating for acceptance and tolerance of Syrian refugees in Turkey, employing the Islamic concepts of muhacir (migrant) and ensar (helper). The article also delves into the tension between Islamic humanism and Turkish nationalism within contemporary Turkish discourse, as reflected in the narratives presented by Diyanet.

The fourth research article in this issue, titled "The European Union's Soft Power Dynamics in Kazakhstan" by Madina Zhunissova, examines the soft power tools employed by the EU in Kazakhstan since the early 1990s. Utilizing Joseph Nye's concept of soft power, the author seeks to elucidate EU policies in the realms of culture, political values, and foreign policy. Zhunissova's concluding assessment of the EU's engagement in Kazakhstan is that both parties, namely the EU and Kazakh authorities, share an interest in fostering a closer relationship.

The fifth research article (based on a conference paper) in this issue, titled "Transformation of Memorial Culture: The Case of Husein Bey Gradaščević in Contemporary Bosniak Perspective" by Amir Duranović, analyzes Bosniak historiography concerning the Bosniak notable Husein Bey Gradaščević, who initiated a revolt against Ottoman central rule in the early 1830s. According to the author, Bosniak historians, especially since the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995, tend to interpret Husein Bey's movement as reflecting the desire of Bosniak notables for national autonomy in the 19th century. Another group of historians, including Turkish historians, assess it merely as a resistance movement against the modernization process in the Ottoman Empire.

The sixth article in this issue is a comprehensive book review by Emir Fatih Akbulat, focusing on William H. Holt's book titled "The Balkan Reconquista and Turkey’s Forgotten Refugee Crisis." Akbulat also references earlier studies by scholars such as Justin McCarthy and Nedim İpek on the expulsion of Balkan and Caucasian Muslims during the long 19th century. He assesses Holt's new book as a highly significant contribution to the field, particularly in shedding light on the (lack of a strong) memorial culture of migrants from the Balkans and Caucasus in Turkey.

The final paper is a concise book review by Klaus Kreiser on the book titled "Das Osmanische Europa. Methoden und Perspektiven der Frühneuzeitforschung zu Südosteuropa" (edited by Andreas Helmedach, Markus Koller, Konrad Petrovsky, and Stefan Rohdewald).

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the authors of these excellent articles. I also extend my thanks to the editorial board members, first of all Cengiz Yolcu, and the referees of this issue for their hard work and valuable efforts during the evaluation process of the articles.

Mehmet Hacısalihoğlu, Prof. Dr.
Editor in Chief