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Wilson Sokhey, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, has spent 20 years traveling to and studying the politics and economics of Russia and former nations of the Soviet Union. And there has been plenty of news out of this region in recent weeks: Ukrainian troops kicked off a successful counteroffensive, in some cases retaking territory that had been occupied by pro-Russian forces since 2014. In response, Putin announced last week that his regime would mobilize an additional 300,000 reserve troops to send to Ukraine. People living in four regions of the eastern part of the country are also currently voting in referendums that will decide if those lands become part of Russia—a move that most experts outside of Russia have labeled a sham.

read the full article here!

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The STUDIO Research Lab: What It Is and Where It Is Going

By Andrew Nonnemacher and Andy Baker

If ever there was a win-win initiative, the STUDIO Lab is it. STUDIO pairs CU undergraduate students with CU social science faculty to work as paid research assistants on research projects. In other words, students receive valuable research experience and mentorship by working directly with world-class research faculty, all while getting paid! Meanwhile, faculty members experience the joys of mentoring young people while also receiving valuable assistance and support for their research projects. A win-win indeed!

STUDIO began in the CU Political Science Department, as it is the brainchild of Political Science Professor . When Wilson Sokhey envisioned and established the STUDIO lab in 2020, she had no idea how successful it would become. Initially working primarily with Political Science majors and faculty, Wilson Sokhey began by soliciting applications from students interested in working on faculty-led research projects, and she then decided whom to admit and how to pair them with faculty. Students who were accepted and participated benefited not only from the research experience and pay, but also from STUDIO's professional trainings, networking opportunities, and social events. In addition, although most of the collaborations and events occurred remotely because of COVID restrictions, STUDIO gave students a way to maintain steady contact with their professors during the pandemic. After just a few semesters, Divisional Dean David Brown caught wind of STUDIO's success and decided to scale up the idea to the entire Social Sciences Division, which is composed of ten departments. To no one's surprise, Dean Brown asked Wilson Sokhey to be the director of this much larger undertaking! 

Today, STUDIO is so popular among students that the number of applicants far outruns the amount of funding and thus the number of available slots. If you are interested in supporting STUDIO so that we can hire more undergraduate students, here.

STUDIO Projects and Outcomes

Our STUDIO students in the 2021-2022 academic year reflected a wide range of backgrounds and research interests. Projects have included research on the teaching of statistics in the social sciences, the Yoruba diaspora and anti-slavery legislation, presidential executive orders, the political behavior of single parent households, immigrants’ political participation, indigenous politics, environmental activism, and the European Union.

One STUDIO student, Haylie Schramm (pictured), presented her paper with Professor Svet Derderyan at the Midwest Political Science Association, one of the top Political Science conferences in the country!

Wilson Sokhey published an , coauthored with Jeffrey Nonnemacher, about her experience of setting up STUDIO and her efforts to attract a diverse applicant pool and set of participants. Nonnemacher himself is a former CU undergraduate who helped to set up STUDIO! 

CU Political Science faculty members David Brown and published an about statistical software in the classroom from their STUDIO project with CU undergraduate Katherine V. Bryant!

Former STUDIO students are already moving onto great things like founding their own businesses, studying languages abroad, and working for the private sector and the government.

Upcoming projects for 2022-2023

STUDIO is excited to welcome a diverse group of 42 students working with 25 faculty or advanced graduate student mentors from 10 different social science units for this coming academic year.  (Allowing us some pride of ownership, 18 of these 42 students are, ahem, Political Science majors!) The project topics include gang violence, air quality, transmasculine voices and singing, language discrimination, Latinx DJs, the loss of tribal languages, the prevention of violence and terrorism, Latina political leadership, theories of crime, European Union legislation, energy transitions, psycholinguistics, gender and political representation in India, international governance and its effect on domestic political and economic outcomes, and Christian nationalism in the US.  The social science units represented are Anthropology; Economics; Ethnic Studies; Geography; Prevention Science Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science; Linguistics; Political Science; Sociology; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; and Women & Gender Studies.

Incoming first year undergrads can  by Friday, August 5^th to be considered for STUDIO for the 2022-23 academic year.

Studio Research Mentors for the 2022-23 academic year (Political Science faculty in bold)

• Alexis Palmer, Linguistics
• , Political Science
• Bhuvana Narasimhan, Linguistics
• Celeste Montoya, Political Science and Women & Gender Studies
• Chase Raymond, Linguistics
• Christine Brennan, Speech Language, and Hearing
• , Political Science
• Colleen Reid, Geography
• David Pyrooz, Sociology
• Don Grant, Sociology
• Francsica Antman, Economics
• Hannah Haynie, Linguistics
• Hyodong Sohn, Political Science
• Joseph Jupille, Political Science
• Joseph Dupris, Ethnic Studies & Linguistics
• Karl Hill, Institute of Behavioral Science, Prevention Science Program
• Kate Goldfarb, Anthropology
• Kathryn Arehart, Speech, Language, and Hearing
• Komal Kaur, Political Science
• Kristie Soares, Women and Gender Studies
• Kyle Thomas, Sociology
• Lori Peek, Sociology
• Pamela Buckley, Sociology and Institute of Behavioral Science
• Sarah Goodrum, Institute of Behavioral Science, Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
• , Political Science

Our New Studio Students (Political Science students in bold)

• Alina Lopo - Major: Political science; Minor: Data science 
• Amanda Ruybal - Major: Political Science and International Affairs
• Anushka Kathait - Major: Computer Science, Economics; Minors: Leadership Studies
• Arjun Novotny-Shandas - Major: Political Science and Music (Piano)
• August Guy Pomrenke - Major: Political Science; Minor: undecided
• Blanca Cerda - Major: Neuroscience; Minor: sociology
• Boniface Mwinyi - Major: Political Science
• Carley Gaddis - Major: Linguistics and Art Practices; Minor: SLHS
• Conner Moses -  Major: Linguistics
• Elizabeth Cupp - Major: Political Science and International Affairs
• Elizabeth Iverson - Major: Political Science and Philospohy
• Emily Miller - Major: Political Science and Psychology; Minor: Philosophy
• Emily Reynolds - Major: Anthropology, Linguistics; Minor: Spanish, Writing Certificate
• Emmeline Nettles - Major: Computer Science, Int’l Affairs; Minors: Creative Tech, Chinese
• Esteban Urbina - Major: Economics
• Ethan Shea - Major: International Affairs & Japanese; Minor: Philosophy
• Fabiola Flores - Major: Political Science and Spanish; Minor: Leadership studies
• Fiona Nugent - Major: Political Science; Minors: Spanish and Economics
• Giselle De Haro - Major: Political Science and English; Minor: Ethnic Studies.
• Haylie Schramm - Major: Political Science and Psychology
• Hima Kilaru - Major: Philosophy and Political science
• Indi Wachtler - Major: International affairs; Minor: Business
• Jackson Kessel - Major: Political Science & English Literature; Minor: Spanish
• Jamesie Kaiʻaokamālie Spencer - Major: Psychology; Minor: Sociology; Certificate: Public Health
• Jax Helmick - Major: Political Science, Cinema Studies and Moving Image Arts
• Jay (Jesse) Garnas - Major: Sociology, Psychology
• Kaeli Franzen - Major: Strategy and Entrepreneurship; Certificates: Global Business and Social Responsibility and Ethics, Political Science
• Katherina Mook - Major: Neuroscience and Sociology; Minors: Leadership
• Lena Frank - Major: Psychology; Minor; Sociology
• Lucy Friedman - Major: Political science
• Luke Stumpfl - Major: International Affairs; Minor: Business 
• Maelynn Terr - Major: Statistics and Data Science; Minor: Economics
• Nadin Almilaify - Major: International Affairs; Minor: Philosophy 
• Natalie Castro - Major: Sociology; Minor: Data Science
• Nikhitha Garaga - Major: Political Science; Minor: Philosophy and Journalism
• Paige Clippert - Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Minor: Linguistics
• Remi Trauernicht - Major: Psychology; Minor: Sociology
• Rylee Steen - Major: Psychology
• Sibonelly Espitia Sanchez - Major: Psychology and Sociology
• Sky Kelsey - Major: Political Science and Media production
• Stacey Bui - Major: Political Science and Spanish; Minor: Ethnic Studies

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Political Science Professor Sarah Sokhey and former CU undergrad, now a Ph.D. student in Political Science at Pittsburgh, Jeffrey Nonnemacher newest article about the STUDIO Undergraduate Research Lab has recently been published in PS.

Abstract:

Undergraduate research labs have long been recognized as having educational and professional benefits, but much less attention has been given to how they can promote diversity and inclusion. Without a conscientious effort to promote these goals, labs are likely to replicate and perpetuate existing inequalities. This article discusses our experiences and lessons from launching an undergraduate research lab in a political science department at a research-oriented state university. It concludes with suggestions for other departments interested in starting undergraduate research labs. Promoting diversity and inclusion by working with undergraduates is unlikely if faculty are recruiting students individually outside of a lab, if the burden is on students to approach faculty, or if labs do not take practical steps to make this happen.

Learn more here:

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Dr. Sokhey specializes in comparative politics and political economy with a regional focus on the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. Click here to hear her discuss the Biden/Putin meeting on KOA news Radio. 

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The Political Science Department would like to congratulate Professor Sarah Wilson Sokhey and Professor Jennifer Fitzgerald on recieving the 2018-2019 Marinus Smith Awards. We feel grateful to have such amazing faculty!

"The Marinus Smith Awards are presented each spring to nominated faculty, advisors and staff members who have made a positive impact on the lives of CU �鶹ӰԺ students. Submitting a nomination provides a meaningful way for students to say thank you to outstanding staff and faculty members who have taken the time to show care and concern for those they serve."

Click here to read more about the award! Congratulations Professor Sokhey and Professor Fitzgerald!

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Professor Sarah Sokhey's book, The Political Economy of Pension Policy Reversal in Post-Communist Countries (Cambridge University Press)), won the  for outstanding publication on the political economy of Russia, Eurasia and/or Eastern Europe from the Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). 

Click here to view the book.

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Following the Trump-Putin Summit in Helsinki, Finland, Professor Sarah Sokhey spoke with KOA Newsradio hosts April Zesbaugh and Marty Lenz on July 18^th, 2018. She addressed the implications of the summit itself, and its mpact on both Russian politics and American politics. Listen below!

[soundcloud width="25%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/473479941&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"][/soundcloud]

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Assistant Professor

Dr. Sarah Wilson Sokhey’s life in academia is a tale of two worlds. Not only has she been a part of the CU �鶹ӰԺ faculty since 2009, she is affiliated with the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia.

“I have been going to Russia nearly every year since 2002” she said. “A lot of my research is done in Russian about Russia.”

Without hesitation, her favorite part of Russia is “easily Moscow. I love all of Russia, but Moscow is definitely my favorite.”

“I remember the news footage of Yeltsin standing on top of the tanks shaking his fists” she recalled, reminiscing about the fall of the Soviet Union. “My first big political memory is the fall of the Soviet Union and even as a kid, I was really enamored by all these seemingly new countries.”

“My family wasn’t very political, and even they were talking about the fall of the Soviet Union” she quipped, “and that really left an impression.”

While Russia is a big focus of her research, she also spends a lot of time studying the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

She just published a book titled The Political Economy of Pension Policy Reversal in Post-Communist Countries, “a title so good”, she joked, “that it requires an acronym - PEPPER-Comm!”.

“The book is about pensions,” she said. “Russia was among about 30 countries around the world that adopted social security and pension reform, and then after the financial crisis, a third of them got rid of it.”

The goal was to understand “why you would adopt this fundamental reform to restructure social security and then a decade or so later scrap it?”

The book hits at a large part of Dr. Sokhey’s research which focuses on “how politics and economics are connected to each other,” she explained. “A lot of the social problems that exist in the world can be explained by the economy” she said, “if you don’t have a functioning state and a functioning state economy, then things go badly.” She argues that “if you can figure out how to reform the economy in the best way, then you can solve a lot of those social problems.”

Not only is Dr. Sokhey an active researcher on campus and around the world, she is also an active professor. “My favorite classes to teach are PSCI 3022: Russian Politics and PSCI 4062: East European Politics.”

“I really love teaching about Russia and Eastern Europe because there are so many misconceptions, and these countries, especially Russia, are worth getting to know.”

Dr. Sokhey loves teaching and loves being able to interact with students and discuss what she is reading, writing, and researching. “I always liked reading and writing. Academia gives me the opportunity to do both of those things and then talk about it.”

She also loves the students on campus, “It is a lovely place to work. The undergrad students are great, the graduate students are great, it is just a great intellectual environment to be in.”

Her favorite part, though, of being a professor at CU is being a mentor and advisor to students. “Working with students on their own research, hearing their ideas and watching them explore and answer their own questions is such a rewarding experience.”

“It is so important to reach out and get to know your professors and faculty,” she said. “Approach them about your ideas for research, apply for UROP.” Even if academia isn’t the goal, “faculty can be a great resource to learn about other opportunities.”

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Abstract:

Trade has the potential to influence a wide range of political and social outcomes. Using the post-Soviet context, we examine how language policies – vital components for how minorities are treated with far-reaching economic consequences – are influenced by trade. We argue that while ethnic politics and colonial legacies are both important in shaping language laws, it is important to recognize that the Russian language remains a significant commercial lingua franca in the region. When economic exchanges between Russia and other post-Soviet republics are frequent, governments are more likely to adopt pro-Russian language laws as a practicality and to maintain favor with the Russian government and Russian-speaking businesses. Using an original dataset covering all Russian language-related laws in the former Soviet states from 1992 to 2009, we find a significant and positive relationship between trade and pro-Russian language laws. These results are robust even when we (1) instrument for Russian import levels and (2) consider the Baltic effect, spillovers from cultural affinity, and the uniqueness of fuel exports.
 

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