University of Richmond Leadership Studies Professor Guzel Garifullina Receives Award for Journal Article

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — Guzel Garifullina, a professor in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond, has received the Frank Cass 2025 Prize for “Best Article” published in Democratization.

The prize is awarded annually for a research article in the journal that, according to the journal’s editorial team, “most enhances our knowledge and understanding of processes of democratization, including consolidation and crises of democracy.”

Garifullina received the award for her article “Ambition without democracy: when the cautious seek office,” which was published in December 2024. The award committee described the article as “a well-written, well-designed, and well-executed study.”

Garifullina’s research focuses on comparative politics, authoritarianism, and political behavior in Russia and the post-Soviet region. In her research, she investigates the effects of political leadership on governance and the role of selection procedures in encouraging political ambition under authoritarianism, which is the focus of the award-winning paper.

“This paper stemmed from research I began during my dissertation,” said Garifullina, who has taught at UR since 2023. “And it is particularly rewarding to be recognized for what took several years of hard work. The findings, that stomping out democratic competition affects what type of people we see pursuing public office, are sadly applicable in a growing number of cases.” 

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