I study the politics of authoritarian regimes with a specific focus on elite power struggles, civil-military relations, and grand strategy. I use primary sources, rare books, and interviews to provide new accounts of historical milestones in two nations of crucial geopolitical importance: China and Russia. I investigate how leaders in those nations secure themselves against threats at home and abroad. My research agenda contributes to several fields and disciplines: international relations, comparative politics, security studies, history, and Chinese and Russian studies.
Books in order of publication:
Prestige, Manipulation, and Coercion: Elite Power Struggles in the Soviet Union and China after Stalin and Mao – 2022
The Party’s Interests Come First: The Life of Xi Zhongxun, Father of Xi Jinping – 2025
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