Stanislav Skritki

About Me

I am a PhD candidate (ABD) at Michigan State University.

My research concentrates on Comparative Political Economy, with a specific interest in the informal aspects of politics, such as special interest groups, state capture, patronage, and clientelistic networks. I also work in International Political Economy, focusing on global trade, finance, exchange rates, and international debt.

My dissertation explores how party personalization, organizational strength, and political competition influence the dynamics of instrumental patronage by party leaders. In this research, I analyze both the behavioral microfoundations of patronal connections between political leaders and state appointees and the reasons behind voters' reluctance to hold politicians accountable.

Based on fieldwork in the Republic of Moldova, which I chose as a case to test the theory, I created two original datasets. One includes data on party elites, including local officials, and the other on party voters. Both datasets capture individual perceptions of instrumental patronage under personalist leaders. I evaluate the theory using quantitative methods, such as OLS, Maximum Likelihood Estimation, and Structural Equation Modeling, complemented by qualitative evidence.

I have gained diverse and complementary professional experiences, serving in various roles as a state official, civil society leader, and party functionary in the Republic of Moldova. Specifically, my background includes positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Research; serving as Vice President of the Ukrainian Youth Association and chairing the Coordination Council of Ethnocultural Organizations; and working at the Democratic Party of Moldova headquarters, where I coordinated activities in the Department of Economy, Budget, and Finance. These experiences enable me to bridge the gap between theoretical assumptions and real-world processes.

My teaching interests include Comparative Political Economy, International Political Economy, Party Politics, Political Behavior, Political Regime Change, and quantitative research methods such as OLS, Maximum Likelihood Estimation, and Multi-Level Models.

Email:
skritkis@msu.edu