Vacancy: Research Assistant (FLAS project) - CLOSED
The Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) invites applications for a research assistant to work on the research project “Financial Liberalization and Authoritarian Survival in the Muslim World (FLAS)” funded under Programa Estatal de Generación de Conocimiento y Fortalecimiento Científico y Tecnológico del Sistema de I+D, Proyectos de I+D de Generación de Conocimiento, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades. This project seeks to reveal how the financial policy toolbox of the autocrats in Muslim societies contribute to the resilience of illiberal regimes. The focus is on financial market building and regulation–including banking reforms–to explore how these tactics strengthen authoritarian regimes and prolong their tenure.
We are seeking candidates at the post-graduate / pre-doctoral level with a background in political economy, economic sociology, development studies or international relations. Fluency in English, excellent writing skills, and experience in the analysis of qualitative data are a requirement. The ability to conduct mixed-methods research and pursue theoretically-informed case studies are desired. Working knowledge of quantitative analytical tools (STATA or R) and experience in dataset construction and management are additional assets.
The candidate will contribute to projects on (a) how non-democratic governments implement financial liberalization reforms and (b) the link between financialization, democratic backsliding and authoritarian survival in developing areas. The specific duties will include researching and writing up case studies on financial reforms--including banking and capital markets regulations—as well as working on various papers and datasets related to monetary and fiscal policy. The candidate will also be involved in copyediting and background research such as literature reviews and minor administrative tasks.
The project has a built-in capacity-building component and is ideal for candidates who seek to pursue a more advanced degree. Upon successful performance, the candidate will be invited to co-author papers for conference presentations and journal submissions to support his/her future career development. The work commitment is between 10-15 hours/week for 6 months, with the possibility of extension by up to one year. The start date is flexible but should be no later than November 2019. Remuneration is commensurate with a PhD grant under the Spanish government fellowship system.
Applications must be submitted by 1 October 2019
Applications should include:
- A letter of interest.
- Current CV that includes contact information of two referees.
- Official transcripts of relevant academic degrees.
The application should be saved as one PDF document and sent to: csanchez@ibei.org (Carlos Sanchez. Research coordinator at IBEI).
For any questions regarding the position, please contact Fulya Apaydin (fapaydin@ibei.org).