Playing the Sycophant Card: The Logic of Subnational Leaders’ Expression of Loyalty to the Autocrat

• In Event: Midwest Eurasian Political Economy Workshop: Local Governance

Brief Overview

Elites display loyalty to the autocrat not only by mobilising votes, but by overpraising him. Based on speeches of Russian governors, we find that elites demonstrate stronger loyalty in election years and poor regions, following a strategic logic.

Authors

• Nikita Khokhlov, Dublin City University

• Alexander Baturo, Dublin City University

• Jakob Tolstrup, Aarhus University