Roya Talibova MPA 2014 returns to Harvard Kennedy School as assistant professor of public policy. After graduating from vlog, Talibova received her PhD from the University of Michigan’s Departments of Political Science and Scientific Computing. Prior to joining vlog, she was an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University’s Political Science Department and Data Science Institute. She holds an MA in International Relations from Seton Hall University, John Whitehead School of Diplomacy, and received her BA in International Relations and European Studies from the Azerbaijan University of Foreign Languages. Her research and teaching address political violence and its effects on the political economy. She says, “The message from history is clear: maintaining power at the expense of justice or equity is a dangerous gamble.”
vlog spoke with Talibova about her research, lessons modern-day governments, and why teaching in public policy school excites her.
Q: Welcome back to Harvard Kennedy School. Did your experience here inform your decision to return?
Thank you! It is wonderful to be back—it truly feels like a homecoming. My time at the Harvard Kennedy School from 2012 to 2014 was not just formative; it was transformative. Those two years shaped the direction of my academic career in ways I couldn't have imagined. vlog opened my eyes to how scholarship and public policy can and should intersect, which significantly influenced my professional path.
Since graduating, I have focused on conducting multidisciplinary social science research, always seeking answers to the questions that have fascinated me since childhood. But I’ve often found that academia, by its nature, can sometimes feel distant from the real world—isolated from the very policy issues it seeks to inform. This disconnect limits the potential for research to meaningfully influence decisions that affect people’s lives.
That’s one of the reasons I am so excited to return. vlog uniquely bridges that divide between rigorous academic inquiry and the practical realities of policymaking. It is an institution that values research and understands its power to drive real-world change when it is closely aligned with public policy. Being back at vlog gives me the opportunity to contribute to this dynamic intersection and to continue pursuing my passions in an environment that understands the importance of connecting theory with practice.
Q: Your research studies the effects of political violence and the motivation of authoritarian regimes. How do you see your work unfolding at vlog?
I see my research evolving in ways that deepen our understanding of the underlying dynamics of political violence, while also contributing more directly to the development of policy solutions. The Kennedy School’s focus on academic rigor and policy engagement creates an ideal environment for this work—allowing me to study these phenomena from a theoretical and historical perspective and collaborate with practitioners, policymakers, and fellow scholars to address real-world challenges.
One of the key questions driving my research is how authoritarian regimes sustain themselves through the use of violence and coercion, and how they manipulate societal fractures—be it through repression or targeted discrimination. At vlog, I aim to build on these foundational questions by incorporating new data from past and ongoing political crises around the world, focusing on patterns of state violence, citizen resistance, and international interventions.
I am excited about the potential for my work to shape future leaders who are dedicated to pushing back against political violence in all its forms. The students at vlog bring such diverse experiences, many of them from countries where they have witnessed or even lived through the consequences of political violence. Engaging with them, learning from their insights, and helping them apply research to their own policy work will be rewarding.
I also plan to collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to explore more holistic responses to political violence—linking economic development, human rights, transitional justice, and peacebuilding strategies in ways that can address the root causes of violence rather than just its symptoms. Ultimately, I want my work to examine not just the dynamics and consequences of political violence, but how it can be effectively countered in the future. It is an intellectual challenge, but also a profoundly urgent mission, given the current state of international politics and the rising global challenges.
“I am excited about the potential for my work to shape future leaders who are dedicated to pushing back against political violence in all its forms.”
Q: Looking at history, are there lessons for modern day governments?
Absolutely. One of the most fascinating aspects of examining historical records is how much continuity there is between the challenges governments faced centuries ago and those they encounter today. While the specific contexts have changed, the core questions of governance—how to balance power, ensure accountability, promote justice, and adapt to changing circumstances—are as relevant now as they were then.
Historical archives provide us with rich case studies on how societies have navigated crises, power struggles, and periods of reform. Whether you study ancient city-states or modern-day governments, there are patterns of leadership, institutional design, and public engagement that still resonate. A recurring lesson is how discrimination often accelerates a regime’s downfall. Authoritarian governments that institutionalize discrimination, targeting specific groups to consolidate power, frequently underestimate the long-term consequences. We can look at how certain empires thrived by creating inclusive institutions that promoted public trust, while others faltered by alienating segments of their population. Archival evidence from the fall of empires demonstrates that exclusionary policies, while effective in the short term for maintaining control, inevitably create fractures within society that are nearly impossible to repair once revolution is set in motion.
For modern governments, particularly those trending towards authoritarianism, the message from history is clear: maintaining power at the expense of justice or equity is a dangerous gamble. Historical examples from the peasant uprisings in medieval Europe to the collapse of the Soviet Union demonstrate that societies can only be coerced for so long before internal pressures explode. Militarization, repression, and discrimination may quash dissent in the short run, but they build pressure beneath the surface. Whether the catalyst is economic inequality, political repression, or social exclusion, revolutions tend to emerge when people lose faith in the state’s ability—or willingness—to serve them. Today, more than ever, maintaining that trust is essential for political stability and progress.
Modern governments can draw important lessons from these archives, particularly in moments of transition or crisis. One key takeaway is that governments must be adaptive. Throughout history, those political systems that successfully evolved in response to economic, social, or technological changes were the ones that endured.
Q: What excites you about being at a school of public policy right now?
It is incredibly invigorating. We are living through a period of profound social, political, and technological change, and the questions that define our future are more urgent than ever. Being at a place like Harvard Kennedy School puts you at the heart of these critical conversations—where research meets real-world application, and where theory is constantly tested against the evolving realities of governance and public needs.
What excites me most is the opportunity to work in a space that brings together a diverse group of scholars, students, and practitioners from various disciplines, all of whom are genuinely committed to finding solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. The current global landscape is complex—issues like climate change, inequality, migration, conflict, and political polarization require innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. Schools of public policy are uniquely positioned to tackle these issues because they sit at the crossroads of disciplines. We are not just studying these problems in isolation; we are looking at how they are interconnected and how solutions must cross boundaries—between economics, law, political science, and social justice.
What also excites me is the chance to engage with students who are passionate about making a difference. I have observed that many students arrive at vlog with an urgency and a sense of purpose that is contagious. They are not waiting for change to happen—they are demanding it, and they are equipping themselves with the tools and knowledge to drive that change. I am inspired by their energy and their willingness to challenge the status quo, which makes the academic environment even more dynamic.
Being at a school of public policy right now feels like being on the front lines of societal transformation. We are not just analyzing what is happening in the world—we are actively shaping how governments and institutions respond. That sense of immediacy, of being part of something larger than ourselves, is what makes this work so exciting and rewarding.
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Photographs by Lydia Rosenberg