PhD Candidate · UCLA · Comparative Politics & Methods

Nikita Savin

I study how digital technologies are reshaping politics in democracies and autocracies — expanding opportunities for participation and accountability while also enabling new forms of repression, surveillance, and political violence.

My research combines computational social science, political communication, political theory, and causal inference to analyze online discourse, authoritarian politics, and the political consequences of emerging technologies.

Before UCLA, I earned a Candidate of Sciences degree in Political Theory at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, where I also served as Director of the MA Program in Public Affairs.

Google Scholar CV (PDF) Email

Research

  1. Internet Disruptions and Protest Dynamics: Evidence from India

    How do government-imposed internet shutdowns affect protest behavior in India, which has accounted for over one-third of global disruptions since 2016? Using event-level data from AccessNow and POLECAT, the project applies a difference-in-differences design to identify the causal effects of digital repression on collective action and mobilization.

  2. Was Weber Right? Calvinism, Economic Growth, and State Building in Germany

    with Natalia Vasilenok (Stanford University)

    Revisiting Weber's thesis on the Protestant ethic through the long-term legacy of Calvinism in early modern Germany. Using novel archival data on 16th-century Calvinist parishes, the project links their spatial distribution to modern indicators of social capital and innovation, challenging the prevailing emphasis on literacy and Lutheranism.

  3. The Ballot After the Bullet: Exposure to Casualties and Voting Under Autocracy

    with Konstantin Bogatyrev (LSE) and Georgy Tarasenko (Cornell University)

    How does local exposure to wartime casualties from the Russo-Ukrainian War influence political behavior and electoral outcomes in Russia? Leveraging original data on soldier deaths and precinct-level results, the project investigates how the personal costs of war affect support for the regime in an authoritarian context.

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles

Book

Teaching

University of California, Los Angeles

  • Politics and Strategy Winter 2026
  • Fascism Summer 2025
  • Political Economy of Climate Change Spring 2025
  • Introduction to American Politics Winter 2025
  • Politics and Government of Russia Fall 2024, 2025

Higher School of Economics

  • Political Theory 2013–2023
  • Contemporary Theories of the Political 2013–2016
  • Introduction to Political Communication 2021–2023
  • Introduction to Political Science 2022–2023
  • Research Seminar 2016–2023

Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences

  • Democracy and Authoritarianism Spring 2023
  • Conflicts and Violence in Politics Spring 2023

Selected student comments

“It was an honor to learn from N. Savin. He was a great instructor who was always approachable, helpful, and kind. No weaknesses, just strengths as an educator. I highly recommend him.”

Fascism

“He adopts a welcoming and helpful Socratic method that engages students … He challenged us to think outside the box and look at opinions that we maybe previously would not have. I think he will make a fine professor one day, and any institution that can acquire him is fortunate.”

Introduction to American Politics

“Nikita was an excellent instructor. His classes were presented with impressive depth … He fostered a welcoming environment and explained complex philosophical concepts clearly, making them easy to digest.”

Fascism

“He always teaches with a warm smile, creating a welcoming and relaxed classroom atmosphere … As an international student, I particularly appreciate that I feel no pressure when speaking in his class — it’s a space where I feel heard and respected.”

Political Economy of Climate Change

“Nikita is an excellent TA. His section was always well organized and in line with course ideas, and he has a very welcoming personality that allowed each student to feel like they could seek out help.”

Political Economy of Climate Change

“He cares very much that his students are perceiving the material well … I cannot think of any weaknesses. He cares about his students and their education.”

Introduction to American Politics

“I honestly took the course because of Nikita. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the subject … In section, he always dove deeper into the topic instead of just summarizing the lecture, which made it easier to remember important events later on. Overall, he did a really amazing job teaching.”

Politics and Government of Russia

“Nikita was one of the best and most knowledgeable TAs I have had in the political science department. His teaching … was superb and helped reinforce the material … He cared about the material, which makes me believe he will be an incredible professor once he completes his schooling.”

Politics and Government of Russia

Public Writing & Media

Commentator on TV Rain, Zhivoy Gvozd, Khodorkovsky LIVE, Current Times, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, and Belsat TV.

Get in touch

I'm happy to discuss research collaborations, data, or methods. Email is the fastest way to reach me.

nikitasavin@ucla.edu Google Scholar CV (PDF)