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.
Tom Hardy would be a great pick for Andriy Yermak if there were a movie with his character in it.
February 8, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Tom Hardy would be a great pick for Andriy Yermak if there were a movie with his character in it.
Applications for the 2027 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now open. They 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.
Peace Fellowships
www.rotary.org
February 1, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Applications for the 2027 Rotary Peace Fellowships are now open. They 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.
Use these in my own research and cannot underscore their utility strongly enough.
Applications of GPT in Political Science Research: Extracting Information from Unstructured Text
Applications of GPT in Political Science Research: Extracting Information from Unstructured Text By Kyuwon Lee, University of Southern California, Simone Paci, Stanford University, Jeongmin Park,…
Applications of GPT in Political Science Research: Extracting Information from Unstructured Text By Kyuwon Lee, University of Southern California, Simone Paci, Stanford University, Jeongmin Park,…
Applications of GPT in Political Science Research: Extracting Information from Unstructured Text
Applications of GPT in Political Science Research: Extracting Information from Unstructured Text By Kyuwon Lee, University of Southern California, Simone Paci, Stanford University, Jeongmin Park, Oxford University, Hye Young You, Princeton University, and Sylvan Zheng, New York University This article explores the use of large language models (LLMs), specifically GPT, for enhancing information extraction from unstructured text in political science research.
politicalsciencenow.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Use these in my own research and cannot underscore their utility strongly enough.
Timely and interesting papers.
As we enter a period of major global instability- what The Economist termed ‘the Age of Chaos’ we need new thinking. So I’m delighted to announce this major new programme on Global Disorder, in partnership with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/british...
January 23, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Timely and interesting papers.
Canadian PM Carney’s speech at Davos is the world leader speech that has impacted me the most since Ukrainian President Zelensky’s address hours before Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion. Worth your time. Worth giving it thought.
January 21, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Canadian PM Carney’s speech at Davos is the world leader speech that has impacted me the most since Ukrainian President Zelensky’s address hours before Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion. Worth your time. Worth giving it thought.
Glad to see UoM making such a move. “65,000 colleagues and students will receive full Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training, making Manchester the world’s first university to deploy equitable access across its entire community”
World-first AI partnership between The University of Manchester and Microsoft announced
The University of Manchester becomes first university in the world to provide Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training to all students and staff.65,000 staff and students will receive full Microsoft ...
www.manchester.ac.uk
January 19, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Glad to see UoM making such a move. “65,000 colleagues and students will receive full Microsoft 365 Copilot access and training, making Manchester the world’s first university to deploy equitable access across its entire community”
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
Excited to present a new preprint with @nkgarg.bsky.social: presenting usage statistics and observational findings from Paper Skygest in the first six months of deployment! 🎉📜
arxiv.org/abs/2601.04253
arxiv.org/abs/2601.04253
January 14, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Excited to present a new preprint with @nkgarg.bsky.social: presenting usage statistics and observational findings from Paper Skygest in the first six months of deployment! 🎉📜
arxiv.org/abs/2601.04253
arxiv.org/abs/2601.04253
As a BA International Fellow, I cannot recommend this opportunity strongly enough. Apply!
Together with the @royalsociety.org, we invite applications for the International Fellowships 2026. The scheme supports international early career researchers in advancing their expertise through collaborations with UK partners. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LaMIBC
January 15, 2026 at 5:35 PM
As a BA International Fellow, I cannot recommend this opportunity strongly enough. Apply!
Genuinely surprised by how many UK and European university department websites make it difficult to find basic information about their research staff.
January 14, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Genuinely surprised by how many UK and European university department websites make it difficult to find basic information about their research staff.
Reposted by Silviya Nitsova
New preprint is out!
Focusing on Russia, this paper asks what happens when disinformation awareness itself becomes a tool of authoritarian rule. We often assume that learning about disinformation increases resistance to propaganda. But what if the regime weaponises it? 1/7
Focusing on Russia, this paper asks what happens when disinformation awareness itself becomes a tool of authoritarian rule. We often assume that learning about disinformation increases resistance to propaganda. But what if the regime weaponises it? 1/7
January 5, 2026 at 1:39 PM
New preprint is out!
Focusing on Russia, this paper asks what happens when disinformation awareness itself becomes a tool of authoritarian rule. We often assume that learning about disinformation increases resistance to propaganda. But what if the regime weaponises it? 1/7
Focusing on Russia, this paper asks what happens when disinformation awareness itself becomes a tool of authoritarian rule. We often assume that learning about disinformation increases resistance to propaganda. But what if the regime weaponises it? 1/7
Great place to present your work on political elites, broadly defined.
We are happy to announce the call for papers for the third WhoGov Mini-Conference on Political Elites!
It will be held on August 20-21st, 2026 in Oslo. We welcome research on political elites broadly understood and not just papers using WhoGov.
You can find the call here: bit.ly/whogovminico...
It will be held on August 20-21st, 2026 in Oslo. We welcome research on political elites broadly understood and not just papers using WhoGov.
You can find the call here: bit.ly/whogovminico...
January 9, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Great place to present your work on political elites, broadly defined.
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 🧵: