PhD Candidate: Strategic Violence by Non-State Actors (1,0 FTE)

at  Universiteit Leiden

Vacancy number
14933
Job type
PhD positions
Hours (in fte)
1,0
External/ internal
External
Location
Den Haag
Placed on
30 May 2024
Closing date
30 June 2024 29 more days to apply

PHD CANDIDATE: STRATEGIC VIOLENCE BY NON-STATE ACTORS (1,0 FTE)

The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) at Leiden University is looking for a PhD candidate in the field of terrorism and political violence to join a project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and administered by the FGGA.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Non-state actors’ tactical and strategic violence adapts to changes in their operating environment. There are various stimulants for adaptation, including among others, new security measures, changes in a government’s use of violence or aggression, or competition from other non-state actors. Exploring how, when, and why terrorist groups adapt their strategic use of violence is the overarching goal of the ERC funded project Terrorist Group Adaptation & Lessons for Counterterrorism (TERGAP).
To understand how terrorism survives, and sometimes grows, in the face of well-funded and high-priority counterterrorism policies and operations, we must explore and analyse how terrorist groups adapt their strategic use of violence and group decision-making in response to changes in their environment. TERGAP theorizes, seeks to identify, and empirically verify systematic changes and patterns in terrorist groups’ strategic violence in response to two changes in their environment: 1. New opportunities to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize aggrieved and vengeful individuals following government repression; 2. New counterterrorism policies, practices and operations.
The PhD candidate will research activities related to non-state actors’ tactical and strategic violence and decision-making. TERGAP specifically investigates terrorism and counterterrorism, but the PhD candidate can research terrorism, counterterrorism, or other types of political violence, armed conflict, or conflict processes. To align with TERGAP, the PhD candidate’s research is expected to develop a quantitative research design applying statistical, econometric, and/or large-N data modeling.
The successful candidate will join the Terrorism and Political Violence Research Group at ISGA. This is a 100% research position, but opportunities to develop teaching expertise, gain experience, and potentially obtain a BKO (Basic
Teaching Qualification) can be provided in consultation with ISGA and the PhD supervisor. The research should lead to a PhD within a four-year timeframe.
For more information about the project please read The TERGAP Project.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The PhD candidate will support counterterrorism data collection and conduct independent research. To align with the project’s objectives, the PhD research should build on innovative approaches in political violence research and/or theories, models, or frameworks from other disciplines. The dissertation could lead toward new frontiers in political violence and conflict studies that strengthen our understanding of violent non-state actors’ adaptation and survival. A master’s degree in political science, international relations, security studies, or a related field is ideal, but not required. During the PhD process, the candidate is expected to attend international conferences to present their research; financial support for conference travel and associated costs can be provided in consultation with the PhD supervisor.
The successful candidate will collect cross-national data on counterterrorism practices and policies. The source documents are already identified and will be provided to the PhD candidate. In addition to supporting the data collection project, the PhD candidate can collect, code and use additional information included in the source documents for their dissertation.
The project’s principal investigator is a quantitative social scientist and will be focused on applying large-N/big data techniques, but applicants are not required to have statistical expertise. The successful applicant is expected to develop their empirical or statistical prowess and capabilities during the PhD process. Training and courses are available through ISGA and Leiden University and financial support for external additional training courses can be provided in consultation with the PhD supervisor.
Prospective candidates need to demonstrate a clear affinity with research on political violence, armed conflict, terrorism/counterterrorism, and/or international or national security. The quality of the research statement received outlining the candidate’s contribution to the project will influence the selection committee’s decision. Please see below for what to include in the research statement.
The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr. Graig Klein (Assistant Professor in Terrorism and Political Violence; Project Principal Investigator) and promoted by Prof. Dr. Edwin Bakker (Professor of Terrorism and Counterterrorism).

WHAT YOU BRING

In this team, we are looking for someone who can work independently. Every job is different, so in the beginning we will devote attention to your onboarding. If some of the work activities are new to you, we will look together at what you need, and draw up a development plan. This position is a good fit for you if you recognise yourself in the following:

• Master’s degree completed by the time of the appointment, ideally in political science, international relations, security studies, computation social science, economics, or related field. Master’s degree in other disciplines will be considered if degree or field of research is relevant to studying group adaptation. A research master’s degree is considered an asset;
• Demonstrable ability and enthusiasm for research at the intersection of conceptual and policy-oriented research;
• An explicit interest in terrorism, counterterrorism, political violence, and/or armed conflict;
• Experience with quantitative research methods and willingness to develop expertise;
• Availability to travel outside the Netherlands if necessary;
• Demonstrable good time-management skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in an organized and results-oriented fashion;
• The PhD thesis and/or journal articles will be written in English and therefore excellent command of English is required. Dutch language skills are not a requirement, but will be seen as a plus;
• Academic publications will be seen as a plus.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct collaborative and novel research in the fields of terrorism, counterterrorism, political violence, armed conflict, and/or conflict processes;
• Assist in counterterrorism data collection and coding;
• Conduct independent and collaborative data analyses;
• Present their work to academic and professional audiences, both independently and with team members;
• Submit independent/solo-authored manuscripts to internationally recognized peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Contribute to co-authored manuscripts to internationally recognized peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Support the research team’s building of an international network that spans both academics and policymakers/practitioners working in terrorism and counterterrorism;
• Support the research team’s management of journal articles at various stages of review;
• Actively participate in discussions at the institute and research group level on research and teaching innovation;
• Follow PhD courses based on an individual training and supervision plan, including through the Graduate School;
• Obtain a PhD by completing either an unpublished monograph (thesis) or publishing several articles in peer-reviewed academic journals on a topic related to the project outlined above within a four-year timeframe.