Milan Svolik

Milan Svolik is the Elizabeth S. & A. Varick Stout Professor of Political Science at Yale University's Department of Political Science, part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His research and teaching focus on comparative politics, political economy, and formal political theory, with emphasis on authoritarian regimes, democratization, and democratic erosion.

Education: PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago (2006). Previously taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Research interests include the political dynamics of authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, electoral manipulation, and the role of polarization in undermining democracy. His award-winning book *The Politics of Authoritarian Rule* (2012) analyzes institutional variations and stability across dictatorships. Current projects include *Downsizing Democracy*, exploring why citizens support anti-democratic politicians, and a survey tool to measure democratic commitment amid polarization.

Publications span articles in top journals like the American Political Science Review and the American Journal of Political Science. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and recognized by awards from the American Political Science Association and the Guggenheim Foundation.

• Awards:
  • Carnegie Fellowship (2025)
  • APSA Comparative Democratization Section Best Book Award (2012)
• Teaching: Formal Political Theory, Models of Politics, Democratization.
• Labs/Teams: Engages with interdisciplinary projects on democracy, including collaborations on polarization and electoral integrity.