Jadie Minhas

Welcome to my site,

My name is Jadie Minhas (she/her/hers). My academic journey has led me to my current position as a third-year doctoral student in political science at Arizona State University, School of Politics and Global Studies. I am also a graduate student affiliate at the Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian, & East European Studies Critical Languages Institute. My focus areas, which I have developed over the years, are international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and quantitative methodology.

My research interests are unique in that they delve into the underlying causes and ramifications of Russia's recent acts of military aggression against foreign nations. I am particularly interested in how soft power, such as nationalism, religion, and public opinion attitudes, can serve as the bedrock needed for authoritarian leaders like President Putin to justify and legitimize these acts of aggression.

My current work has practical implications as I am analyzing President Putin's political rhetoric throughout his presidency. I am utilizing text analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, to examine the underlying messages and effects of this political communication, especially during times of conflict. Additionally, I am working on a paper that critically examines the instrumentalization of religion by Russia's authoritarian regime.