The research activities of CLS pursue academic depth while at the same time reacting to the current problems of the political, economic and social life in Bulgaria and taking into account the context of today's global world.

The analytical work of CLS covers national, regional and global issues. CLS is actively involved in the structuring and implementation of the public debate in Bulgaria on key issues.

The emphasis in CLS’s  research and analytical work in the recent years lies on a wide range of issues: democratization of post-communist countries, corruption, populism, anti-Americanism and the new world order.

CLS served as the secretariat of the International Commission on the Balkans and published its analytical report "The Balkans in Europe's future."

CLS works in cooperation with a wide network of Bulgarian, regional, European and international non-governmental analytical centers and organizations.