Silviya Nitsova

🚨New version of paper🚨 osf.io/preprints/osf/… How do oligarchs shape policy outcomes in developing democracies? I argue they do so through informal networks of legislators personally linked to them. Using unique quantitative & qualitative evidence from Ukraine, I show that:

My colleagues and I at MIT Sloan are excited to be recruiting a predoctoral research assistant! If you know a talented student who is still exploring opportunities after this especially tough admissions cycle, please encourage them to apply and get in touch. Application link below.

An open source website on the Soviet elite with data visualizations. Every Central Committee (4,480) and Politburo member (130) from 1917–1991. All data made easily available for replication (compiled from books below and other sources) sovietleadershipdata.pages.dev

Pani Natalia, 70, evacuated her husband on a wheelchair from the killzone. They traveled 13km (!) until they got to the Ukrainian defenders on the outskirts of Kostiantynivka. Impossible to watch this w/o tears. Incredible humans. Video by Vadym Heiko.

@Skritsky Thank you! I think you’re absolutely right to point to cluster dynamics over time as an important question. It’s something I plan to explore more in the book!

@snitsova This is very interesting and impressive! - Congrats! :) I would be very curious to learn more about the factors that influence cluster dynamics over time!

🚨New version of paper🚨 osf.io/preprints/osf/… How do oligarchs shape policy outcomes in developing democracies? I argue they do so through informal networks of legislators personally linked to them. Using unique quantitative & qualitative evidence from Ukraine, I show that:

Full preprint available here: osf.io/preprints/osf/…

📌Finding 3: Loyalists also oppose such reforms more consistently than legislators incorporated into oligarchic networks through alternative influence strategies, such as post-election cooptation through media.

If you do research on political networks, fancy making connections with scholars from North America, Europe, and the UK and want to enjoy a beautiful city in August w/o evaporating from heat, apply by 12 April! Details and application form available here: sites.google.com/view/confpolin…

📢 Call for papers: 19th Annual Political Networks Conference, University of Manchester, 4–7 August 2026. Submissions are now open! For the first time in its history, the conference will take place in Europe. @PolNetworks @OfficialUoM

The fellowships offer so much, including the opportunity to obtain a Master’s degree or a professional certificate from a world-class university, to outstanding candidates from around the world working in the field of peace, conflict resolution & development.

Applications for the 2027 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now open! rotary.org/en/our-program…

Use these in my own research and cannot underscore their utility strongly enough.

Come work with us. Two two year postdocs at the Harriman Institute. One for Ukrainian studies and another open position. Deadline January 5. harriman.columbia.edu/postdoctoral-s…

Politicians who later become congressional leaders trade stocks like everyone else ... until they ascend to power. After ascension, their portfolios beat peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts.

A protest against authorities' decision earlier today to kill Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. First mass protest in Ukraine since full-scale Russian invasion. Video by @ukrpravda_news

⚡️ BREAKING: Ukraine's parliament passes bill destroying independence of key anti-corruption bodies. The bill was passed with the support of 263 lawmakers, while 13 voted against it and 13 abstained. kyivindependent.com/bill-subordina…

@sirotkina_lene @NYUDataScience 🎉🎉🎉 Wohoo! NYU are lucky to have you! Have a spectacular year ✨ Congratulations once again!

I got a dream job! This fall I’m joining NYU as a Data Science Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow @NYUDataScience. What a year ahead! I’ll continue working on computational models that predict political behavior at scale, bringing new tools to political science.