About
Patricija Romina Smolnikar is a DPhil researcher in Area Studies at the University of Oxford Russia and Eastern Europe programme. Her research focuses on authoritarianism, formal and informal institutions, and regime transitions, with particular interest in patronal politics and elite dynamics in post-Soviet states. She previously completed an MSc in Emerging Economies and International Development at King’s College London with distinction, where her dissertation examined the interaction between formal sanctions and informal institutions in Russian crony capitalism. Her current work explores authoritarian succession, comparing cases such as Russia and Kazakhstan to understand how elite coordination and patronal structures shape regime continuity. Alongside her academic work, she has experience in policy-relevant research, publishing, and leading editorial teams.