PhD Position in Historical Legacies of Violence and Democratic Institutions
Investigate how past political violence shapes contemporary democratic institutions within a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network.
Best for:Best for graduate students in political science or related fields with a strong interest in comparative historical analysis, conflict studies, and political violence.
Overview
This fully-funded doctoral position is part of the DIViNE Doctoral Network, hosted at the Università degli Studi di Milano within the Department of Social and Political Sciences. The successful candidate will investigate the mechanisms through which historical legacies of political violence influence contemporary democratic resilience and political behavior, focusing on Spain, Italy, and comparative case studies. The researcher will engage in interdisciplinary training, qualitative and quantitative methods coursework, and international secondments at partner academic and non-academic institutions. The candidate is expected to conduct independent research, participate in network-wide activities, and complete a doctoral dissertation.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent doctoral research on historical legacies of violence and democratic institutions under the supervision of faculty mentors.
- Utilize comparative historical analysis, archival research, qualitative process tracing, and quantitative event-data methods.
- Fulfill mandatory mobility requirements by undertaking research secondments at co-host institutions and non-academic partner organizations.
- Participate in network-wide workshops, training schools, seminars, and policy-oriented activities organized by the DIViNE network.
- Collaborate with international research teams across partner European universities.
- Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals and presentation at international conferences.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree or equivalent in Political Science, International Relations, Conflict/Peace Studies, Sociology, or a closely related field
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency sufficient for doctoral study and international collaboration
Instruction: English
- Demonstrable academic interest in political violence, democratic institutions, or comparative historical analysis
- Strong foundational training in social science research methods
- Proficiency in English with excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Commitment to international mobility and collaborative network training
- Must not already possess a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment
- Must comply with the MSCA mobility rule: must not have resided or carried out main activities in Italy for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-15 (Europe/Rome)
Applicants must submit their documentation electronically through the designated application portal with the specified subject line. The application must include a cover letter, CV, research statement, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, and contact details for two referees.
- Cover letter
- CV
- Research statement
- BSc degree certificate and transcripts
- MSc degree certificate and transcripts
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Copy of passport
- 2 academic referee contacts
Contact
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