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I write and teach about the politics of corruption, autocracy, and economic development usually with a focus on Russia and Eurasia. 

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My most recent book is Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia.  Rather than treating Russian politics an an extension of Vladimir Putin's worldview or Russia's unique history, Weak Strongman emphasizes Russia's similarities to other autocracies and highlights the difficult trade-offs that confront the Kremlin on issues from election fraud and repression to propaganda and foreign policy. Rich in personal anecdotes and cutting-edge social science,

Weak Strongman offers the best evidence available about how Russia actually works.  For more information, see here

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With Ora John Reuter and David Szakonyi, I will publish Workplace Politics: How Politicians and Employers Subvert Elections in January 2025 with Oxford University Press. Using data from 8 countries and a deep focus on Russia, we examine the subtle and not so subtle ways that workers are mobilized during elections. ​

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In one recent article in American Politics Research, I examine the impact of the January 6th insurrection on support for the Republican Party and for Donald Trump, while in a forthcoming article in Political Science Quarterly I explore how partisan and normative appeals shape support for sending aid to Ukraine.    

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In separate  projects in Russia and Ukraine, I am also conducting surveys to identify how exposure to the costs of war shape support for the state. 

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For CV, click  here 

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