PhD Position in Political Science: Militarization and Democratic Erosion in Latin America
Join an MSCA-funded doctoral network investigating the impact of militarized security policies on democratic institutions in Latin America.
Best for:Best for political science graduates with strong mixed-methods skills and a research interest in Latin American security and democratic backsliding.
Overview
The University of Amsterdam is seeking a PhD candidate to join the DIViNE (Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe) project, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) doctoral network. This research position focuses on the intersection of public support for militarized security, institutional legacies, and democratic erosion in Latin American contexts. The successful applicant will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining survey experiments, cross-national quantitative analysis, and qualitative fieldwork. The role involves training across Amsterdam and Milan, including a non-academic secondment at the Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
What you'll do
- Conduct independent PhD research on militarization and democratic erosion in Latin America.
- Perform cross-national quantitative analysis and survey experiments.
- Carry out qualitative fieldwork in selected Latin American contexts.
- Co-author academic publications with members of the DIViNE network.
- Participate in network-wide training modules, colloquia, and research workshops.
- Contribute to the research environment at AISSR and the University of Milan.
- Teach Bachelor-level courses for up to 10% of the contract time.
- Assist with administrative tasks related to project events and conferences.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in political science or a closely related discipline.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English (excellent proficiency required).
Instruction: English
- Proficiency in quantitative research methods including regression analysis and causal inference.
- Proficiency in qualitative research methods such as process tracing and interviewing.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
- Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Must satisfy MSCA mobility requirements: cannot have resided or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment.
- Must hold a Master's degree by the start of employment.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-06
Submit a single PDF containing a CV, a two-page cover letter, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, contact details for two references, and a writing sample of up to 10 pages. Applications must be submitted via the online portal.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Graduate transcripts
- 2 reference letters
- Writing sample
Contact
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