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JOB GUIDE NO.: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=46068

University of Zurich, URPP Asia and Europe

Research position at the doctoral level in research field 3 Norms and 
Social Order(s)

Institution Type: College / University
Location: Switzerland
Position: Doctoral Fellow

The University Research Priority Program (URPP) Asia and Europe of the 
University of Zurich explores exchanges and encounters between Asia 
and Europe that have taken and continue to take place in the areas of 
culture, law, religion and society. It promotes research by junior 
graduate scholars at both doctoral and post-doctoral levels within a 
structured and interdisciplinary research environment. The URPP 
consists of three research fields, i.e. Concepts and Taxonomies, 
Entangled Histories, and Norms and Social Order(s).

We invite applications for

2-3 research positions at the doctoral level in research field 3 Norms 
and Social Order(s)

Starting date: 1 September 2013

Applicants should submit an original research project related to the 
following research projects:

1) Political Protest, Circulating Norms and the Political Economy of 
Land in South Asia

This project looks into forms of protest against land grabbing and 
land colonization in South Asia. We start from the premise that the 
political economy of land in South Asia forms part of a specific mode 
of governing through a state of exception, in which different forms of 
property rights are contested and negotiated. The project will look 
into the formation of transnational networks (forms of protest) and 
the transnational circulation of norms, ideas and practices (between 
Asia and Europe) that are mobilized to legitimate political protest 
and uprising or, conversly, to justify territorial claims and related 
political and even military interventions by state and non-state 
actors alike.

2) Reconfiguring Citizenship in the Arab World

Recent developments in the Arab world have renewed academic interest 
in types of contentious action and patterns of popular mobilization in 
the region. Since the events of the so-called Arab spring, challenging 
authoritarianism and opposing social inequalities in the name of 
justice, dignity and liberty have been effective devices for 
reclaiming political participation. The language of transnational 
human rights and civil rights has been of utmost importance in this 
context. However, current developments in several countries of the 
region point not only to the force of resistance of certain groups and 
centres of power, but also indicate the re-emergence of profound 
ideological cleavages inside as well as outside the state apparatus. 
What seems to be at stake is the relationship between subjects and the 
state in terms of political belonging as well as in terms of access to 
rights and resources. At the same time, the fact that mobilization has 
been fostered by a multitude of communicational tools  ranging from 
personal networks and established organizations to new social media 
and from image politics to artistic forms of public expression  raises 
questions as to the role of mediatization in political protest. 
Focusing on the changing course of protest and conflict, the project 
will be devoted to conflicting claims to citizenship and to the 
contested character of its institutionalization.

Questions that could be addressed under this perspective are:

-        What is the role played by mediatization in shaping concepts 
and practices of citizenship?

-        How is public space used by different actors for the 
inclusion or exclusion of groups and their political demands?

-        What are the strategies employed by protesters and the 
authorities to visualize political protest?

-        How is citizenship politically and legally re-configured?

According to the disciplinary background of the candidate and the 
thematic focus of the proposal, the PhD project will be assigned to 
legal studies or Islamic / Middle Eastern studies. Projects with a 
focus on gender are especially encouraged.

Requirements: M.A. or equivalent academic degree qualifying the 
candidate to submit a PhD thesis in one of the following disciplines: 
Chinese studies, East Asian art history, Gender studies, general and 
comparative literature, geography, history, Indian studies, Islamic 
and Middle Eastern studies, Japanese studies, law, political science, 
social and cultural anthropology, study of religion, theology.

Candidates are expected to enroll in the URPPs graduate program 
(Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program Asia and Europe), where 
discussions are conducted in German and/or English. Candidates should 
therefore have adequate knowledge of German or be ready to acquire the 
necessary language skills upon notice of election.

Employment conditions: 50% PhD-position at the University of Zurich 
for the duration of three years at most. The salary is according to 
the Universitys regulations for PhD-students. PhD dissertations are to 
be submitted at the University of Zurich.

We offer:a stimulating, demanding and competitive disciplinary and 
interdisciplinary research environment (4 faculties, 14 disciplines).

Contact:

Applications should be submitted electronically in a single 
PDF-Document by 15 February 2013 according to the application 
guidelines published on our website 
(www.asienundeuropa.uzh.ch/aboutus/application.html). Please send them 
to the following email address:

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Contact: Dr. Inge Ammering, URPP Asia and Europe, Executive Manager, 
Tel.: +41 44 634 07 38

Website: http://www.asienundeuropa.uzh.ch