{"id":66697,"date":"2025-11-13T11:26:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T11:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opportunitiesforyouth.org\/?p=66697"},"modified":"2025-11-13T11:26:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T11:26:25","slug":"call-for-applications-17-fully-funded-phd-positions-within-the-msca-doctoral-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/?p=66697","title":{"rendered":"Call for Applications: 17 Fully-Funded PhD Positions within the MSCA Doctoral Network"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Lund University, in collaboration with a consortium of fourteen leading higher-education institutions from Europe and Canada, today announces the recruitment of <strong>17 fully funded doctoral candidates<\/strong> for the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA DN) project titled <em>Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL)<\/em>. This four-year doctoral training programme is scheduled to commence in <strong>September 2026<\/strong> and aims to offer an interdisciplinary, international platform for doctoral research into law, governance and society in authoritarian settings.<\/p>\n<h3>Project Rationale<\/h3>\n<p>Authoritarian governance presents complex challenges to established legal, institutional and societal frameworks. This Doctoral Network addresses one of the most pressing research frontiers in socio-legal studies: how legal systems, normative orders and governance structures evolve, adapt and persist within authoritarian environments. With a geographic focus on Central Asia, the SOCIAL network will generate novel empirical and theoretical contributions concerning law-society\u2013governance dynamics, while training a new generation of scholars capable of bridging academic research and policy practice.<\/p>\n<h3>Consortium and Institutional Framework<\/h3>\n<p>The SOCIAL network is coordinated by the Department of Sociology of Law at Lund University and includes 14 partner organisations across Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Turkey and Canada. The participating institutions represent world-class centres in law, sociology, political science and related fields. Together, they commit to offering doctoral candidates a structured programme of research training, international mobility, inter-sectoral secondments and joint supervision.<\/p>\n<h3>Programme Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>The SOCIAL Doctoral Network pursues three primary objectives:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Empirical and theoretical innovation<\/strong> \u2013 to advance knowledge about how authoritarian legal orders function, adapt and interact with global legal norms and frameworks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interdisciplinary doctoral training<\/strong> \u2013 to develop scholars equipped with advanced research methods and transferable skills, able to operate across disciplinary boundaries.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy outreach and knowledge transfer<\/strong> \u2013 to ensure that research outcomes are translated into actionable intelligence for governance, civil society and international stakeholders.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Training Model and Candidate Responsibilities<\/h3>\n<p>Each of the 17 doctoral candidates will be hosted by one of the consortium institutions and work under the joint supervision of at least two scholars from different partner institutions. The training model includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Two mandated secondments (one academic, one non-academic) of between two and six months each.<\/li>\n<li>Fieldwork and research activities in Central Asia as an integral component of each project.<\/li>\n<li>A comprehensive training curriculum covering research methods, ethics, Open Science practices, transferable skills, and thematic seminars on law, governance and corruption.<\/li>\n<li>Mobility and collaboration across consortium institutions, international conferences, network workshops and peer-review publication opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Eligibility Criteria<\/h3>\n<p>Applicants must satisfy the following criteria, in accordance with MSCA conditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Possess a Master\u2019s degree (or equivalent) entitling them to commence doctoral studies in the country of recruitment.<\/li>\n<li>Have <strong>not been awarded a doctoral degree<\/strong> at the time of recruitment.<\/li>\n<li>Have a maximum of <strong>four years\u2019 full-time equivalent research experience<\/strong> after their Master\u2019s degree by the recruitment date.<\/li>\n<li>Must <strong>not have resided or undertaken their principal activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately prior to recruitment<\/strong> (MSCA mobility rule).<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate strong command of English; hold relevant disciplinary background (law, sociology, political science, economics, development studies, anthropology, human rights or related fields); show motivation for inter-disciplinary research and fieldwork in Central Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Employment and Benefits<\/h3>\n<p>Successful candidates will be appointed under a full-time, fixed-term employment contract (typically 36 months) funded through the MSCA programme. The contract provides a competitive monthly living allowance, mobility allowance and, where applicable, family allowance, in line with MSCA regulations. Candidates will benefit from full social security coverage, access to the international consortium network, structured training and career development support.<\/p>\n<h3>Doctoral Project Descriptions<\/h3>\n<p>A broad overview of the doctoral projects is provided below:<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>PhD Position Details<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC1 \u2013 Authoritarian Legal Harmonization<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: S\u00f6dert\u00f6rn University (Sweden)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Explore how international frameworks shape legal harmonization in authoritarian regimes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project investigates how legal norms are diffused and harmonized across authoritarian regimes in Central Asia. It focuses on the growing influence of regional organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC), and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in shaping legal convergence through non-democratic pathways. The doctoral candidate will explore how these regional actors challenge Western liberal-democratic legal norms, contributing to a contested and evolving legal landscape in the region. The project aims to highlight the tensions between authoritarian legal models and Western governance agendas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sh.se\/english\/sodertorn-university\/meet-sodertorn-university\/this-is-sodertorn-university\/vacant-positions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/www.sh.se\/english\/sodertorn-university\/meet-sodertorn-university\/this-is-sodertorn-university\/vacant-positions<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC2 \u2013 Myths vs Realities in Legal Reforms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Birmingham (UK)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Contrast public reform narratives with actual legal outcomes under authoritarian elites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project examines the contradictory nature of legal reforms in Central Asia. Some reforms aim to entrench authoritarian rule through constitutional engineering, while others introduce mechanisms aligned with international standards\u2014such as administrative courts and accountability structures. The PhD candidate will analyze these dual-track reforms, assessing how they are perceived by citizens, how they are enforced by institutions, and evaluating their implications for governance and rule of law.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com\/hcmUI\/CandidateExperience\/en\/sites\/CX_6001\/job\/8258\/?utm_medium=jobshare&amp;utm_source=External+Job+Share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com\/hcmUI\/CandidateExperience\/en\/sites\/CX_6001\/job\/8258\/?utm_medium=jobshare&amp;utm_source=External+Job+Share<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC3 \u2013 Corporate Transparency &amp; Corruption<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Toronto (Canada)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Link corporate disclosure norms to patterns of grand corruption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project explores the relationship between corporate disclosure, transparency, and grand corruption in Central Asia. It examines how legal frameworks and institutional practices shape corporate accountability, and how transparency norms are interpreted or subverted under authoritarian governance. The research will generate a comparative database and case studies, analyzing how companies and regulators navigate disclosure obligations in environments marked by systemic corruption.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here (please click on \u201cDoctoral student opportunity\u201d):\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crimsl.utoronto.ca\/people\/directories\/all-faculty\/matthew-light\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/www.crimsl.utoronto.ca\/people\/directories\/all-faculty\/matthew-light<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC4 \u2013 Politics of Anti-Corruption<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Turiba University (Latvia)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Examine local adoption and manipulation of international anti-corruption standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project investigates how international anti-corruption frameworks are interpreted and applied in Central Asia\u2019s authoritarian legal systems. The research will unpack how global norms\u2014rooted in Western legal traditions\u2014are adapted, contested, or resisted by domestic institutions shaped by collectivist values and legal nihilism. The doctoral candidate will engage in fieldwork examining the implementation and local meaning of anti-corruption practices and agencies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.turiba.lv\/en\/news\/phd-position-in-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-politics-of-anti-corruption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/www.turiba.lv\/en\/news\/phd-position-in-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-politics-of-anti-corruption<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC5 \u2013 Corruption in Public Procurement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Marmara University (Turkey)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Identify informal procurement practices in national and donor-funded contracts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>Focusing on corruption in public procurement processes in Central Asia, this DC project investigates the gaps and tensions between national and international compliance cultures. It will analyze how informal practices intersect with official procurement policies, particularly those tied to international financial institutions. The candidate will study case examples including pandemic-related procurement to identify vulnerabilities and policy reform opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/econ-ikf.marmara.edu.tr\/en\/notice\/phd-position-announcement-under-the-social-doctoral-network-marie-sklodowska-curie-actions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/econ-ikf.marmara.edu.tr\/en\/notice\/phd-position-announcement-under-the-social-doctoral-network-marie-sklodowska-curie-actions<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC6 \u2013 Executive By-Laws &amp; Authoritarian Governance in Central Asia<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Lund University (Sweden)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Analyze how decrees and by-laws centralize authoritarian power.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project explores how by-laws and normative acts\u2014often beyond the scope of parliamentary oversight\u2014are used in authoritarian regimes to regulate public life. The research will investigate legal fragmentation, governance mechanisms, and informal hierarchies within Central Asia\u2019s legal systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lu.varbi.com\/en\/what:job\/jobID:870095\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/lu.varbi.com\/en\/what:job\/jobID:870095\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC7 \u2013 Traditional Courts &amp; State Law<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (Germany)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Study interactions between aksakal and formal court systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project examines the interaction between traditional courts (e.g., aksakal) and state legal systems in Central Asia, past or present. The project will assess the political use of jurisdictional pluralism and explore how informal justice mechanisms operate in contested or hybrid legal environments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zmo.de\/fileadmin\/Karriere\/Ausschreibungen_2025\/CALL_FOR_APPLICATIONS_SOCIAL_SK_EN_FIN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/www.zmo.de\/fileadmin\/Karriere\/Ausschreibungen_2025\/CALL_FOR_APPLICATIONS_SOCIAL_SK_EN_FIN.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC8 \u2013 Political Connections &amp; Access to Economic Resources<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of the West of England (UK)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Trace how networks and corruption influence access to scarce economic resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>Investigating how corruption and political networks influence access to scarce economic resources (e.g. bank credit) in authoritarian economies, this DC project will use fieldwork and survey methods to analyze stakeholder experiences, institutional practices, and the fairness and efficiency of resource allocation in key economic sectors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a title=\"https:\/\/ce0164li.webitrent.com\/ce0164li_webrecruitment\/wrd\/run\/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=8433573cTb&amp;VACANCY_ID=617852YCi3\" href=\"https:\/\/ce0164li.webitrent.com\/ce0164li_webrecruitment\/wrd\/run\/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=8433573cTb&amp;VACANCY_ID=617852YCi3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Doctoral Researcher<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC9 \u2013 Administrative Law &amp; Regime Legitimacy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Malm\u00f6 University (Sweden)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Investigate administrative law reforms as instruments of authoritarian legitimacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project studies administrative law reform as a mechanism of authoritarian legitimation. It will examine the role of legal frameworks, judicial practices, and institutional cultures in shaping public perceptions of legal accountability and legitimacy in Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web103.reachmee.com\/ext\/I005\/1015\/job?site=7&amp;lang=UK&amp;validator=e5819a4704cd849685049472c0c17895&amp;job_id=4243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/web103.reachmee.com\/ext\/I005\/1015\/job?site=7&amp;lang=UK&amp;validator=e5819a4704cd849685049472c0c17895&amp;job_id=4243<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC10 \u2013 Anti-Money Laundering Compliance in Authoritarian States<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Estonian Business School (Estonia)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Assess anti\u2011money\u2011laundering frameworks and enforcement pathways.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project focuses on anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks in Central Asia. It will evaluate compliance mechanisms, enforcement levels, and the alignment of AML norms with international expectations in environments marked by political centralization and opacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"https:\/\/info.ebs.ee\/hubfs\/EBS%20Project%20based%20PhD%20Call%20Deadline%2031.01.26.pdf?hsLang=en\" href=\"https:\/\/info.ebs.ee\/hubfs\/EBS%20Project%20based%20PhD%20Call%20Deadline%2031.01.26.pdf?hsLang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/info.ebs.ee\/hubfs\/EBS%20Project%20based%20PhD%20Call%20Deadline%2031.01.26.pdf?hsLang=en<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC11 \u2013 Security Narratives &amp; Legal Change<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Birmingham (UK)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Study how securitization drives constitutional\/legal reforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project explores how security discourses\u2014such as counterterrorism and digital surveillance\u2014drive constitutional and legal reforms in authoritarian regimes. The research will study how law is instrumentalized to expand executive power and suppress dissent.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"https:\/\/edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com\/hcmUI\/CandidateExperience\/en\/sites\/CX_6001\/job\/8239\/?utm_medium=jobshare&amp;utm_source=External+Job+Share\" href=\"https:\/\/edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com\/hcmUI\/CandidateExperience\/en\/sites\/CX_6001\/job\/8239\/?utm_medium=jobshare&amp;utm_source=External+Job+Share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com\/hcmUI\/CandidateExperience\/en\/sites\/CX_6001\/job\/8239\/?utm_medium=jobshare&amp;utm_source=External+Job+Share<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC12 \u2013 \u201cOutside the Law\u201d Legal Mobilization in Central Asia<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Lund University (Sweden)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Examine how civil society actors use non-state means to claim rights and justice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project analyzes how individuals and communities mobilize for rights and justice through non-state and extra-institutional channels. It will focus on local activism, digital advocacy, and informal justice initiatives in authoritarian contexts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lu.varbi.com\/en\/what:job\/jobID:869875\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/lu.varbi.com\/en\/what:job\/jobID:869875\/<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC13 \u2013 Legal Pluralism &amp; Anti-Corruption<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Groningen (Netherlands)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Understand dynamics across plural legal systems in corruption control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project investigates how actors navigate competing legal systems to combat corruption in Central Asia. The project will assess whether legal pluralism enhances or obstructs anti-corruption effectiveness in hybrid governance settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/werkenbij.rug.nl\/vacature\/phd-candidate-legal-pluralism-and-corruption-in-central-asia-1321\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/werkenbij.rug.nl\/vacature\/phd-candidate-legal-pluralism-and-corruption-in-central-asia-1321\/?lang=en<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC14 \u2013 Legal Nihilism &amp; Distrust<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Charles University Prague (Czechia)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Probe causes and consequences of societal mistrust in formal law.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project examines why legal nihilism persists in post-socialist authoritarian societies. It will explore public perceptions of law, informal legal practices, and how legal mistrust affects social order and compliance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/euraxess.ec.europa.eu\/jobs\/386400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/euraxess.ec.europa.eu\/jobs\/386400<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC15 \u2013 Legal Education Reform<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: Vilnius University, Institute of International Relations and Political Science (Lithuania)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Critique post-socialist legal education and promote critical\/sociological approaches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project focuses on legal education in Central Asia, investigating its role in promoting critical thinking and socio-legal inquiry. The candidate will analyse the nature and forms of legal education in the context of authoritarian regimes assessing curricula, pedagogy, and institutional resistance to reform.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tspmi.vu.lt\/en\/projektas\/sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia-social\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/www.tspmi.vu.lt\/en\/projektas\/sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia-social\/<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/is.vu.lt\/pls\/dokt\/isas.login?p_kalba=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/is.vu.lt\/pls\/dokt\/isas.login?p_kalba=en<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC16 \u2013 Rural Governance in Central Asia<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Zurich (Switzerland)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Explore local democracy, governance, and rural political cultures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project will explore local governance practices and democratization from a bottom-up perspective in Kazakhstan. It will use ethnographic fieldwork to investigate how villagers engage with and resist formal political structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jobs.uzh.ch\/job-vacancies\/2-phd-positions-within-the-horizons-project-social-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia\/a0f0c310-8719-4a21-8b79-dfe2559cd777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/jobs.uzh.ch\/job-vacancies\/2-phd-positions-within-the-horizons-project-social-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia\/a0f0c310-8719-4a21-8b79-dfe2559cd777<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>DC17 \u2013 Governance in Mongolia<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Host<\/strong>: University of Zurich (Switzerland)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Focus<\/strong>: Study post\u2011socialist local political transformations in Mongolia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Description: \u00a0<\/strong>This DC project investigates local democratic practices in Mongolia, focusing on evolving governance models in rural and peri-urban areas. It will study civic participation, traditional authority, and institutional adaptation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Application details and procedures can be found here:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jobs.uzh.ch\/job-vacancies\/2-phd-positions-within-the-horizons-project-social-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia\/a0f0c310-8719-4a21-8b79-dfe2559cd777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">https:\/\/jobs.uzh.ch\/job-vacancies\/2-phd-positions-within-the-horizons-project-social-sociology-of-authoritarian-law-insights-from-central-asia\/a0f0c310-8719-4a21-8b79-dfe2559cd777<\/span><\/a><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Who Should Apply?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Hold a\u00a0<strong>Master\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0in law, political science, , economics, development studies, sociology, human rights, anthropology, or related fields<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>Hold no PhD<\/strong>\u00a0at recruitment<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>MSCA mobility rule<\/strong>\u00a0applies: unspent &gt;12 months in host country during previous 36\u202fmonths<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Have strong research and language (English) abilities, and motivation to engage in interdisciplinary research and policy outreach<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\"><strong>What We Offer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">36\u2011month full-time EU MSCA employment contract (note that the duration of employment may vary depending on the host institution)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Competitive monthly living, mobility, and family allowances<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Joint supervision and inter\u2011sectoral placements<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Comprehensive training: methods, ethics, Open Science, transferable skills<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"EN-GB\">Career guidance and enhanced employability<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Application Procedure<\/h3>\n<p>Applicants should consult the relevant recruitment link for each doctoral position to obtain full instructions. Generally, a complete application comprises:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A cover letter explaining motivation and fit with the project;<\/li>\n<li>A research proposal (recommended 2\u20133 pages) aligned with the thematic project description;<\/li>\n<li>Curriculum vitae detailing academic and employment history;<\/li>\n<li>Degree certificates and academic transcripts;<\/li>\n<li>Two academic referees with full contact information;<\/li>\n<li>A writing sample (e.g., a published article, Master\u2019s thesis chapter, working paper).<br \/>\nAll documents are to be submitted as a single PDF file via the host institution\u2019s online portal by the deadline of <strong>31 January 2026<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Contact Information<\/h3>\n<p>For further information regarding the SOCIAL Doctoral Network and application queries please contact:<br \/>\nDr Rustamjon Urinboyev<br \/>\nCoordinator, SOCIAL-DN<br \/>\nDepartment of Sociology of Law, Lund University<br \/>\nE-mail: <a href=\"mailto:rustamjon.urinboyev@soclaw.lu.se\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rustamjon.urinboyev@soclaw.lu.se<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>About Lund University<\/h3>\n<p>Lund University, founded in 1666, is one of Scandinavia\u2019s oldest and most distinguished research institutions. With 46 000 students and 8 600 staff, the University is based across Lund, Malm\u00f6, Helsingborg and Ljungbyhed, and maintains a reputation for excellent international research.<br \/>\nAs coordinating institution for the SOCIAL network, the Department of Sociology of Law continues its commitment to advancing high-quality socio-legal scholarship and engaging with contemporary questions of governance, law and society.<\/p>\n<p>For more opportunities, visit:<a href=\"http:\/\/opportunitiesforyouth.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opportunitiesconnect.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lund University, in collaboration with a consortium of fourteen leading higher-education institutions from Europe and Canada, today announces the recruitment of 17 fully funded doctoral candidates for the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA DN) project titled Sociology of Authoritarian Law: Insights from Central Asia (SOCIAL). This four-year doctoral training programme is scheduled to commence&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":66698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,23,28,29,31,33,34,26,42,43,35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-66697","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-africa","8":"category-america","9":"category-asia","10":"category-australia-and-oceania","11":"category-continent","12":"category-europe","13":"category-latin-america-and-the-caribbean","14":"category-middle-east","15":"category-phd","16":"category-scholarships","17":"category-south-america","18":"article","19":"","21":"has-excerpt","22":"has-avatar","23":"has-author","24":"has-nickname","25":"has-date","26":"has-comment-count","27":"has-category-meta","28":"has-read-more","29":"has-title","30":"has-post-media","31":"thumbnail-","32":"has-tfm-share-icons"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=66697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=66697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}