

I write and teach about the politics of corruption, autocracy, and economic development usually with a focus on Russia and Eurasia.
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
For CV, click here
For op-eds, click here and here
Recent papers explore: public opinion toward economic sanctions in Russia
voter intimidation and vote buying; the veracity of public opinion polling in Russia and
the impact of post-election protest on trust in government.
Timothy Frye
Marshall D. Shulman Professsor
Department of Political Science
Columbia University
Editor, Post-Soviet Affairs







