Germany: 2 Ph.D. Scholarships in Transformations in the Arab world

Two Ph.D. Scholarships

The German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik – SWP) is initiating a collaborative, policy-oriented research project designed to study the dynamics and directions of the current transformations in the Arab World under the headline:

»Elite change and new social mobilization in the Arab world«


SWP is calling for applications for two Ph.D. Scholarships that will be awarded to graduate students from the region who wish to participate in this project and who are working on a Ph.D. thesis related to a subject of relevance to the project. These scholarships will cover a period of 18 months starting in July 2012 through December 2013.

You will:

• be part of an international research team based at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin;
• have the opportunity to conduct field research;
• get a hands-on introduction to the practice of think-tank work;
• participate in the cooperative development of a conceptual model for an understanding of transformations in the Arab world;
• discuss policy-oriented research results in different contexts and have the opportunity to participate in scientific conferences.

Your tasks:

• to contribute a case study (for details refer to the concept paper on the project’s webpage) on Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, or Yemen. Applicants are explicitly encouraged to work on countries other than their country of origin/residence;
• to contribute a short policy-oriented paper on a specific question relevant to the project;
• to take part in regular meetings of the fellow forum to discuss research results, methodological questions and develop a conceptual model;
• to take part in other activities of the project.

Eligibility:

• Citizenship or former citizenship of a member state of the Arab League;
• Master or equivalent degree in the social sciences;
• Pursuit of a Ph.D. thesis related to the subject of the project;
• Substantial periods of residence in the Arab region;
• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English. Knowledge of French and/or German is an asset.

Please note that SWP is not a university and therefore not in a position to award academic degrees. Applicants are expected to be registered in an academic program or institution authorized to award a Ph.D degree, or to register with such an institution upon receiving the scholarship.

Benefits:
Successful applicants will receive a scholarship of € 1,700 per month, as well as support for relocation to Berlin and for field research expenses.

Applicants should submit a CV, proof of academic and professional achievements and a letter of recommendation from their academic advisor, as well as a project description of between 2,000 and 2,500 words detailing the country they will work on, the research question, methodology used, preliminary work of relevance and a research schedule.

Please send your e-mail application until 15 April 2012 to the
Department of Human Resources – Personalreferat der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Ludwigkirchplatz 3-4, 10719 Berlin, Germany;
e-mail: lothar-j.bucke(at)swp-berlin.org.