政治学方向博士职位：拉丁美洲的军事化与民主侵蚀

The Department of Political Science is looking for a PhD candidate to work in the “Doctoral Network Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe (DIViNE)” project, funded by the HORIZON MSCA action. The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Abbey Steele (University of Amsterdam) and Dr. Juan Masullo (University of Milan) and join a network of 10 PhD candidates across five universities. At the University of Amsterdam, the PhD candidate will be part of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) programme group Political Institutions and Identities (PII). DIViNE brings together leading European research environments — UvA (Amsterdam), UESSEX (Essex), UMIL (Milan), UC3M (Carlos III de Madrid) and UU (Uppsala) — and partner organizations to combine complementary strengths in quantitative conflict research, behavioral and experimental methods, historical and archival inquiry, institutional and normative theory, and applied policy engagement. Working at the UvA Democracies are commonly seen as able to channel contestation through institutionalized processes and nonviolent action. Yet, democratic polities frequently experience a broad range of political violence — from riots and organized electoral intimidation to extremist mobilization and criminal violence — and violence can test and, at times, erode democratic norms and institutions. Moreover, democracies themselves may respond to perceived threats with measures (e.g., militarized policing, emergency legislation, selective repression) that threaten to undermine core features of liberal democracy such as the rule of law, civil liberties and institutional impartiality. The DIViNE Doctoral Network (Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe) consolidates comparative, historical, theoretical and methodological strands to build a coherent new research program on political violence in democracies. The position is part of WP3 on Dynamics of Support for Violent Movements and Responses, which examines how democracies respond to violence and how these responses shape democratic quality. Many democratic governments increasingly rely on militarized policing, emergency measures, and “iron-fist” security policies that may temporarily reduce insecurity, but potentially at the cost of weakened accountability and distorted institutional responsiveness and constraints. WP3 analyzes the micro-foundations of public support for repression, the institutional incentives behind securitized policies, and alternative strategies better aligned with democratic principles. The PhD project, Militarization, Public Support, and Democratic Erosion in Latin America, examines the interplay between public support for militarized security, institutional legacies of civil–military relations, and democratic erosion. It investigates when and why citizens endorse the use of armed forces for domestic security, how exposure to violence and distrust in civilian institutions shape these preferences, and how public opinion interacts with institutional militarization and executive aggrandizement. Empirical work will combine survey experiments, cross-national quantitative analysis (drawing on datasets such as LAPOP, V-Dem, and Latinobarómetro), and qualitative fieldwork in selected Latin American contexts. The project will contribute to understanding how coercive governance becomes normalized and how democratic quality is affected by persistent militarization. The candidate will divide their training between Amsterdam and Milan, acquiring expertise in mixed-methods research, Latin American politics, conflict analysis, and survey experimentation. The doctoral trajectory also includes a three-month non-academic secondment at Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli in Milan, which will develop skills in policy outreach, public communication, and engagement with human rights and security-sector organizations. The PhD will begin in February 2027. What are you going to do You will: • be affiliated with the AISSR and participate in its organized PhD training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty of Social Sciences with the goal of obtaining the degree of PhD. • conduct PhD research on militarization, public support for militarized security, and democratic erosion in Latin America, including survey experiments, cross-national quantitative analysis, and qualitative fieldwork; • co-author publications with other project members; • take active part in DIViNE training network activities including network training modules, PhD colloquia, research workshops, secondments, and training workshops; • take active part in the research environment at the AISSR, including PII research seminars and AISSR center activities, among others; • during your time in Milan, take active part in the research environment at MiCoRes, including research seminars and workshops, among others; • teach Bachelor-level courses, depending upon availability and as suitable for the PhD schedule (for a max. of 10%). • assist with administrative responsibilities related to the project, such as the organization of workshops, conferences, or other project events. • make Amsterdam (or a location within commuting distance) your primary residence for the duration of the PhD project, with research and training stays in Milan and fieldwork in Latin America. We will assist with finding adequate housing and with applying for visa and residence permits.

What do you have to offer You have the following credentials: Essential: • a Master’s degree or equivalent in political science or closely related discipline. The degree must have been obtained by the start of your employment; • excellent command of social science research methods, including quantitative (e.g., regression analysis of survey and cross-national data, causal inference design, statistical programming) and qualitative methodology (process tracing; interviewing, focus groups) • an interest to conduct fieldwork in Latin America; • excellent oral and written communication skills in English; • Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills • independent thinking and critical analytical skills; • the ability to work independently and in a team.

Desirable: • knowledge of Latin American politics; • experience with survey experiments; • experience with fieldwork; • expertise in research on political violence, organized crime, public security, and/or democratic backsliding.

What else do we offer you The position concerns temporary employment of 38 hours per week for a maximum term of three and a half years (42 months) at the University of Amsterdam, under the MSCA Doctoral Network employment conditions. The initial employment is for one year with an intended starting date of February 2027. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, this term will be extended by a maximum of two and a half years. A possible 6 months extension is envisioned but not yet guaranteed. The employment should result in the conferral of a doctorate. We will put together a curriculum which will also include the opportunity to attend training courses and both national and international events. You will also be tasked with teaching Bachelor's students. In this department, you will work We offer a challenging work environment with a variety of duties and ample scope for individual initiative and development within an inspiring organisation. The social and behavioural sciences play a leading role in addressing the major societal challenges faced by the world, the Netherlands and Amsterdam, now and in the future. Please follow the links to learn more about the Department of Political Science and the AISSR at the University of Amsterdam, the Department of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Milan, and the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli . To work at the University of Amsterdam is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Your application & contact Please note that PhD researchers recruited on the project must satisfy the MSCA mobility requirements, which for this position means that they cannot have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Also note that the program will entail mobility across the institutions and partners in the network, including extended periods in Milan. To apply, please submit the following five documents combined into a single PDF document with your name and the vacancy number in the document title: • a CV; • a two-page cover letter that outlines your preparation and motivation to pursue this degree; • unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts; • the contact details of two academic references; • a writing sample of max. 10 pages (this can be an excerpt from longer written material).

Please do NOT include any other materials at this stage. No other materials will be reviewed by the committee. You can apply online by clicking on link below. The deadline for applications is November 6, 2026. Additional materials such as recommendation letters will be requested only for shortlisted candidates. The selection committee expects interviews to take place online in the week of November 23. We ask you to ensure availability this week. The position will start in February 2027. Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Requirements / required education level / degree: Master Degree or equivalent

Requirements / required education level / discipline: Political sciences

Requirements / skills: • a Master’s degree or equivalent in political science or closely related discipline. The degree must have been obtained by the start of your employment; • excellent command of social science research methods, including quantitative (e.g., regression analysis of survey and cross-national data, causal inference design, statistical programming) and qualitative methodology (process tracing; interviewing, focus groups) • an interest to conduct fieldwork in Latin America; • excellent oral and written communication skills in English; • Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills • independent thinking and critical analytical skills; • the ability to work independently and in a team.

Work location / nr job positions: 1

Work location / job organisation institute: University of Amsterdam

Work location / job country: Netherlands

Hiring contact / organisation institute: University of Amsterdam

Hiring contact / organisation institute type: Higher Education Institute

Hiring contact / country: Netherlands

Hiring contact / city: Amsterdam

Hiring contact / postal code: 1012 WX

Hiring contact / street: Spui 21

Hiring contact / website: http://werkenbij.uva.nl

Application / how to apply: website

Application / application website: https://werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies/phd-position-in-political-science-militarization-and-democratic-erosion-in-latin-america-netherlands-15557

EU funding / framework programme: Horizon Europe - MSCA

EU funding / cofund nr job position: 1

Research field / main research field: Political sciences

Researcher profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Contract: Temporary

Job status: Full-time

Application deadline (as exported; timezone unverified): 2026-11-06T22:59:59