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The Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals invites applications for one four-year full time pre-doc position (training of research personnel contract-FPI). Successful applicants would work as part of the research project “A contested European Union in a fragmenting international order (COURAGE)”, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Proyectos de I+D de Generación de Conocimiento). Candidates would work under the supervision (doctoral and project-related) of Dr. Oriol Costa and/or Dr. Patricia García-Durán, the co-PIs of the grant. The successful applicant will become a core member of COURAGE project team, which include both the co-Pis and a number of other researchers based in Barcelona and abroad).

COURAGE will contribute to a better understanding of how the EU is rethinking its international role in the face of the geopolitical shift in international politics. The liberal international order, i.e. the set of rules, institutions and power relations that have defined the last decades of international political and economic relations, is undergoing major transformations. While the end point of these changes is yet to be defined, the situation is marked by the return of competition between the great powers and the growing ambitions of the many regional powers. So far this has not implied a generalised and complete breakdown of order. The picture is much more diverse and includes, in different thematic or geographical areas, a wide range of options, ranging from successful efforts to maintain order, to the mobilisation of some of its norms or institutions in order to compete for power, but also outright contestation of those norms and attempts to establish rival orders.

We are seeking candidates, preferably but not exclusively, with a strong academic background in political science, International relations, economics, sociology, or related disciplines. Excellent English skills (both oral and written fluency) are a requirement, as well as a demonstrable interest in EU foreign policy. Successful applicants will be requested to apply for the PhD Programme in Politics, Policies and International Relations (PPIR) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Remuneration is commensurate with a PhD grant under the Spanish government fellowship system (contratos de formación de personal investigador predoctoral). The start date should be no later than 1st May 2025.

Applications must be submitted by 28th February.

🖊️ Applications must be submitted through the Application Form and it should include:

• Current CV (maximum recommended 3 pages)
• Academic transcripts
• A cover letter outlining your research ideas and suitability for this position

Grant number: PID2023-147735NB-I00
Referencia predoctoral: PREP2023-001219