Elisabeth Schimpfoessl

Dr Elisabeth Schimpfoessl is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Policy at Aston University’s Society and Politics school. Her research focuses on the sociology of elites, social inequality, and media dynamics in post-communist Europe. She holds a PhD from the University of Manchester (2012).

Her seminal work includes the book Rich Russians: From Oligarchs to Bourgeoisie (Oxford UP, 2018), analyzing Russia’s top 0.1% through 80 elite interviews. This work was reviewed in the Financial Times and Guardian. She also completed a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship comparing British and Russian philanthropy practices.

Her second research strand examines post-communist journalism, co-authored with Ilya Yablokov (University of Leeds). Their collaboration produced a European Journal of Communication special issue on self-censorship in Eastern Europe, funded by the British Academy.

Key themes in her 22+ publications include:

• Economic elites’ moral frameworks
• Media self-censorship mechanisms
• Post-Soviet cultural legitimation strategies

Honors include the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship. She has advised one doctoral student and secured grants from the British Academy. Collaborative projects span Russia, Hungary, and Latvia, reflecting her transnational research approach.