I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and an Associate at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. My research focuses on the dynamics of regime legitimation, popular opinion, political violence and protest in autocracies, with a regional emphasis on Europe and the former Soviet Union. My recent book titled Popular Dictatorships examines the genesis and behavior of electoral autocracies – the most widespread and persistent form of authoritarianism in the world today.
I hold a PhD in Government from Cornell University, MA in War Studies from King’s College London and BA in Law from Saints Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje. Prior to my academic career, I was National Security Advisor in the Government of North Macedonia and Political and Military Advisor in the North Macedonian Ministry of Defense, focusing on foreign affairs and security sector reforms and NATO and EU integration in the aftermath of the country’s inter-ethnic conflict in 2001.
I hold a PhD in Government from Cornell University, MA in War Studies from King’s College London and BA in Law from Saints Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje. Prior to my academic career, I was National Security Advisor in the Government of North Macedonia and Political and Military Advisor in the North Macedonian Ministry of Defense, focusing on foreign affairs and security sector reforms and NATO and EU integration in the aftermath of the country’s inter-ethnic conflict in 2001.