Silviya Nitsova
@snitsova.bsky.social
British Academy International Fellow, Politics Department, University of Manchester | Mitchell Centre for Social Network Analysis | UNC PhD | political economy, oligarchs, political connections, political networks, Ukraine, Eurasia | snitsova.com
Pinned
Silviya Nitsova
@snitsova.bsky.social
· Jun 30
🚨 New research 🚨
osf.io/preprints/os...
How do oligarchs foster favorable policy outcomes in developing democracies?
I used social network and regression analyses of unique quantitative data and original interview-based evidence on the case of Ukraine (2014-2022).
Here’s what I found.
osf.io/preprints/os...
How do oligarchs foster favorable policy outcomes in developing democracies?
I used social network and regression analyses of unique quantitative data and original interview-based evidence on the case of Ukraine (2014-2022).
Here’s what I found.
In less than six hours, Bulgaria switches to the 💶 as its official currency 🇧🇬 🇪🇺It’s pretty cool to witness the world move in the right direction despite everything. Congratulations to all of us on this big achievement.
An article from December 1996 warns that Bulgaria has no chance of joining Europe and the euro would replace the lev only after the second coming of Christ. Brace yourselves, the euro replaces the lev tonight at midnight! 🤣(and, of course, Bulgaria did join the EU in 2007).
December 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In less than six hours, Bulgaria switches to the 💶 as its official currency 🇧🇬 🇪🇺It’s pretty cool to witness the world move in the right direction despite everything. Congratulations to all of us on this big achievement.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
On the 34th anniversary of the end of the USSR, I’m reposting my article from earlier this year, which argued that we should have understood the moment as liberation rather than only as collapse: www.eurozine.com/liberation-n...
Liberation, not collapse
The fall of the Berlin Wall, and not the human chain across the Baltics, is emblematic of 1989. But what if this show of unity had become iconic of communism’s disintegration? Could acknowledging East...
www.eurozine.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
On the 34th anniversary of the end of the USSR, I’m reposting my article from earlier this year, which argued that we should have understood the moment as liberation rather than only as collapse: www.eurozine.com/liberation-n...
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
🚨 Six days left to apply 🚨
2 x 3-year postdoc positions
to work with me on the many impacts of border change, no teaching obligations, a vibrant department @lsegovernment.bsky.social, and London is a fantastic city! Deadline: Jan 4th.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
2 x 3-year postdoc positions
to work with me on the many impacts of border change, no teaching obligations, a vibrant department @lsegovernment.bsky.social, and London is a fantastic city! Deadline: Jan 4th.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
December 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🚨 Six days left to apply 🚨
2 x 3-year postdoc positions
to work with me on the many impacts of border change, no teaching obligations, a vibrant department @lsegovernment.bsky.social, and London is a fantastic city! Deadline: Jan 4th.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
2 x 3-year postdoc positions
to work with me on the many impacts of border change, no teaching obligations, a vibrant department @lsegovernment.bsky.social, and London is a fantastic city! Deadline: Jan 4th.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
PolNet is coming to Manchester! So looking forward to having everyone over here for exciting discussions on everything political networks! 💜 @manchester.ac.uk
2026 Political Networks Conference: 4-7 August 2026 at the University of Manchester. Save the date! More info will be released in early spring. #SNA #polinetworks #polnet #polisky #networkanalysis #politicalnetworks #politicalnets #policynetworks #complexsystems #netsci #polmeth #polisci
December 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
PolNet is coming to Manchester! So looking forward to having everyone over here for exciting discussions on everything political networks! 💜 @manchester.ac.uk
UNC’s CSEEES was such a bright part of my time at UNC. It not only supported my research, but also felt like home. Such a loss for UNC, its students, and Eastern European and Eurasian studies in the US.
December 18, 2025 at 1:08 AM
UNC’s CSEEES was such a bright part of my time at UNC. It not only supported my research, but also felt like home. Such a loss for UNC, its students, and Eastern European and Eurasian studies in the US.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Come work with us. A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Ukrainian Studies and another for an open position at the Harriman Institute. Deadline January 5. harriman.columbia.edu/postdoctoral...
Postdoctoral Scholars
Postdoctoral Scholars
harriman.columbia.edu
December 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Come work with us. A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Ukrainian Studies and another for an open position at the Harriman Institute. Deadline January 5. harriman.columbia.edu/postdoctoral...
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
I am hiring a post-doctoral fellow (2 years) to work on all things political finance in Africa. There are no teaching obligations, and lots of opportunities for fieldwork. A PhD in Political Science is a requirement. Please spread the word! Happy to answer questions - send them to my LSE email.
🚨We're #hiring!
We're looking for a #Research #Fellow to join our team. The successful candidate will be part of the research project "Political #Finance in #Africa" led by Associate Professor @sarahbrierley.bsky.social for 2 years.
🗓️Apply by Monday 12 January 👇🏽
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
We're looking for a #Research #Fellow to join our team. The successful candidate will be part of the research project "Political #Finance in #Africa" led by Associate Professor @sarahbrierley.bsky.social for 2 years.
🗓️Apply by Monday 12 January 👇🏽
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Research Fellow (Political Finance in Africa (POLFINA))
Research Fellow (Political Finance in Africa (POLFINA)),
,
<p style="background: white; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #333333;">LSE is committed to building a diverse, equi...
jobs.lse.ac.uk
December 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I am hiring a post-doctoral fellow (2 years) to work on all things political finance in Africa. There are no teaching obligations, and lots of opportunities for fieldwork. A PhD in Political Science is a requirement. Please spread the word! Happy to answer questions - send them to my LSE email.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Say his name as many times as you can
oh, one more thing, news com au reports the hero is Ahmed El-Ahmed, owner of a fruit stall.
www.news.com.au/national/nsw...
www.news.com.au/national/nsw...
www.news.com.au
December 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Say his name as many times as you can
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
#poliscijobs
Up to 24 postdocs at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester to start in October 2026:
Deadline 16 January.
Applicants must have been awarded their PhD by the closing date, & normally not more than 3 years before that.
Up to 24 postdocs at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester to start in October 2026:
Deadline 16 January.
Applicants must have been awarded their PhD by the closing date, & normally not more than 3 years before that.
December 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#poliscijobs
Up to 24 postdocs at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester to start in October 2026:
Deadline 16 January.
Applicants must have been awarded their PhD by the closing date, & normally not more than 3 years before that.
Up to 24 postdocs at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester to start in October 2026:
Deadline 16 January.
Applicants must have been awarded their PhD by the closing date, & normally not more than 3 years before that.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Entries are now open for the 2026 Brian Barry Prize ✍️
The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.
Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.
Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Entries are now open for the 2026 Brian Barry Prize ✍️
The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.
Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
The prize is awarded annually for excellence in political science. The winner receives £1,500 and will be published in @bjpols.bsky.social.
Follow the link for more information and to find out how to apply: https://bit.ly/3XUKdG1
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
SIOE 2026 at INSEAD Fontainebleau! 13-15 July. Call: www.sioe.org/conference/2...
SIOE 2026 : Call for papers | SIOE
www.sioe.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
SIOE 2026 at INSEAD Fontainebleau! 13-15 July. Call: www.sioe.org/conference/2...
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
A levy on foreign students is one of the closest things you're going to see to tariffs on services - except the UK will be putting it on its own exports...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Levy on international students’ tuition fees not in best interest of UK, says leader of top university
Duncan Ivison, president of Manchester University, says government’s 6% surcharge plan will ‘hurt the sector’
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
A levy on foreign students is one of the closest things you're going to see to tariffs on services - except the UK will be putting it on its own exports...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
📢 Since launching EPSS in June 2025, we’ve been thrilled by the positive feedback from across the political science community.
Now that Call for Papers for EPSS Conference in Belfast has closed, we want to share the response has been extraordinary!
🧵
Now that Call for Papers for EPSS Conference in Belfast has closed, we want to share the response has been extraordinary!
🧵
November 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM
📢 Since launching EPSS in June 2025, we’ve been thrilled by the positive feedback from across the political science community.
Now that Call for Papers for EPSS Conference in Belfast has closed, we want to share the response has been extraordinary!
🧵
Now that Call for Papers for EPSS Conference in Belfast has closed, we want to share the response has been extraordinary!
🧵
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Book workshops are *fantastic.* Whether or not resources are an issue, the Zoom version (2-3 hours) works incredibly well and makes it much easier for participants to attend.
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
I wish more schools had money to organize book workshops. I have attended one today that was intellectually so stimulating. As any good book workshop, it will not only make the manuscript that was being discussed better, but it will make the future work of all the participants better.
November 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Book workshops are *fantastic.* Whether or not resources are an issue, the Zoom version (2-3 hours) works incredibly well and makes it much easier for participants to attend.
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
Other book workshop tips 🧵:
🔵—🟠 👀
Excited to have this paper on social networks as a mechanism for cleavage stabilization with @dpzollinger.bsky.social out!
If we have you intrigued, also pairs with (and empirically engages) our theoretical piece on puzzles of contemporary cleavage research:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
If we have you intrigued, also pairs with (and empirically engages) our theoretical piece on puzzles of contemporary cleavage research:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
How are contemporary cleavage structures stabilized in times of declining mass social and political organizations?
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
In this new paper with @davidattewell6.bsky.social @bjpols.bsky.social, we suggest that homogeneous social (educational) networks provide part of the answer.
tinyurl.com/49cs8jwp
November 6, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🔵—🟠 👀
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
New OA article @europe-asia.bsky.social: The Incumbency Advantage and the Enabler Effect: How Londongrad Beat the UK AML Regime
Drawing on £2bn of property data, we show that not a single incumbent kleptocrat (0/72!) lost their UK assets.
with @jheathershaw.bsky.social T. Mayne & S. Tokubayev
Drawing on £2bn of property data, we show that not a single incumbent kleptocrat (0/72!) lost their UK assets.
with @jheathershaw.bsky.social T. Mayne & S. Tokubayev
November 3, 2025 at 11:46 AM
New OA article @europe-asia.bsky.social: The Incumbency Advantage and the Enabler Effect: How Londongrad Beat the UK AML Regime
Drawing on £2bn of property data, we show that not a single incumbent kleptocrat (0/72!) lost their UK assets.
with @jheathershaw.bsky.social T. Mayne & S. Tokubayev
Drawing on £2bn of property data, we show that not a single incumbent kleptocrat (0/72!) lost their UK assets.
with @jheathershaw.bsky.social T. Mayne & S. Tokubayev
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Really pleased to this out as part of special issues on "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies". Huge thanks to the SI editors, @dpzollinger.bsky.social and @davidattewell6.bsky.social for putting the special together and all of their support during the process.
💥OUT NOW!
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
October 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Really pleased to this out as part of special issues on "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies". Huge thanks to the SI editors, @dpzollinger.bsky.social and @davidattewell6.bsky.social for putting the special together and all of their support during the process.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
How can we compare the size and structuring power of different cleavages over time? Check out @jacobgunderson.bsky.social 's great paper and dataset for scholars working on cleavages at the party system level!
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
💥OUT NOW!
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
"Cleavage size and stability in turbulent times: introducing the bloc volatility and fragmentation dataset" by @jacobgunderson.bsky.social
Part of SI "Cleavage Politics in Western Democracies", edited by @dpzollinger.bsky.social & @davidattewell6.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/0140...
October 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM
How can we compare the size and structuring power of different cleavages over time? Check out @jacobgunderson.bsky.social 's great paper and dataset for scholars working on cleavages at the party system level!
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
The latest from @dpzollinger.bsky.social and I's Special Issue in @wepsocial.bsky.social.
Funding and networking opportunities for researchers of Eurasia, (very) broadly defined.
The UKRI Network Plus: Shifting Global Polarities is calling for applications for Network Fellowships, Network funded research projects, and participants for our annual workshop to be held in Glasgow.
More information can be found at the network website.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/pro...
More information can be found at the network website.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/pro...
Network Plus: Shifting Global Polarities - University of Birmingham
Global research network tackling geopolitical, societal & environmental shifts across Eurasia to build a secure, resilient world.
www.birmingham.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Funding and networking opportunities for researchers of Eurasia, (very) broadly defined.
I’ll ask Didi.
I don't find it super convincing.
October 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I’ll ask Didi.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Paths to Power (PtP) is out in @bjpols.bsky.social! It is a database with data on cabinet members' social profile globally from 1966-2021.
This is a great team effort with @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social, @inalkristiansen.bsky.social. But many more helped us along the way 🙏
A short 🧵
This is a great team effort with @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social, @inalkristiansen.bsky.social. But many more helped us along the way 🙏
A short 🧵
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments | British Journal of Political Science | Cambridge Core
Paths to Power: A New Dataset on the Social Profile of Governments - Volume 55
www.cambridge.org
October 20, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Paths to Power (PtP) is out in @bjpols.bsky.social! It is a database with data on cabinet members' social profile globally from 1966-2021.
This is a great team effort with @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social, @inalkristiansen.bsky.social. But many more helped us along the way 🙏
A short 🧵
This is a great team effort with @chknutsen.bsky.social, @peterla.bsky.social, @inalkristiansen.bsky.social. But many more helped us along the way 🙏
A short 🧵
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
We are hiring PhDs and postdocs to work on the ERC project GETGOV, where I am the PI.
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science (3-4 years) (288628) | University of Oslo
Job title: Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science (3-4 years) (288628), Employer: University of Oslo, Deadline: Monday, November 17, 2025
www.jobbnorge.no
October 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
We are hiring PhDs and postdocs to work on the ERC project GETGOV, where I am the PI.
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
We will investigate governing elites since 1789. I am sure that it will be a lot of fun and result in great research!
Postdocs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
PhDs: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
New Working Paper 🚨
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
October 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
New Working Paper 🚨
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
I am introducing the new dataset on Parliamentary Elites in Authoritarian Regimes (PEAR). It includes information on the composition of parliaments in 819 legislative terms in 130 autocracies from 1945 - based on over 200k individual-level observations.
tinyurl.com/48h68hmh
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
We have a new article in @cpsjournal.bsky.social theorizing founding leader personality cult emergence in Vietnam, China and Indonesia. It'll be part of a special issue "Imagining Nations" w/ @eunajo.bsky.social, @deandulay.bsky.social, @jiyoungko.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Founding Leaders and National Narratives: Anthropomorphism and the Roots of Founding Leader Personality Cults in Three East Asian Cases - Paul Schuler, Trung-Anh Nguyen, Yongfeng Tang, Mohammad Khan, ...
Founding leader personality cults are crucial components of national narratives. Yet, relatively little research examines how they emerge. A small political sci...
journals.sagepub.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
We have a new article in @cpsjournal.bsky.social theorizing founding leader personality cult emergence in Vietnam, China and Indonesia. It'll be part of a special issue "Imagining Nations" w/ @eunajo.bsky.social, @deandulay.bsky.social, @jiyoungko.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We need to build proper labs in the social sciences and promote team work!
Research output after tenure drops off a cliff for business, economics, sociology, and other non-lab fields.
But it remains high post-tenure in lab-based fields such as chemistry, physics, computer science, and engineering.
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
But it remains high post-tenure in lab-based fields such as chemistry, physics, computer science, and engineering.
www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10....
October 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
We need to build proper labs in the social sciences and promote team work!