On Wednesday, October 30 at 1:30 pm ET, Valeria Umanets will present, “Who Fills the Seats? Publicly Employed Women in Russian Municipal Politics,” based on her research on women’s political engagement in Russia's local politics. Her study explores how women’s involvement in municipal governance helps stabilize authoritarian regimes by enhancing the delivery of essential welfare services. The research draws on interviews with municipal representatives, fieldwork observations, and electoral data analysis.