ESR / PhD position: Citizenship and Responsive Governance (ESR6)
ESR / PhD position: Citizenship and Responsive Governance (ESR6)
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Job description
The recruited ESR will be engaged in a series of collaborative research and training activities and will be supported in pursuing a doctoral study project. If you are highly motivated; inspired by learning and undertaking innovative research, thinking and knowledge exchange across disciplines, institutional boundaries and wider society; and wish to be part of an advanced, international, network of creative change agents specialising in resourceful and resilient community environmental practice; then this ESR/PhD vacancy could be the ideal appointment for you.
Co-supervised by academic and non-academic partners, the RECOMS ESR will be encouraged to critically, practically, and creatively explore the contribution and relationships between their individual doctoral study projects across three interconnecting research themes:
- empowering and unlocking the potential of vulnerable communities to become more resourceful
- strengthening the adaptive and transformative capacity of local groups through resourceful environmental practice as critical to building community resilience
- encouraging a more just and inclusive approach to stimulating community resourcefulness by nurturing broader participation in resourceful environmental practices.
A core feature of the RECOMS programme - both with respect to informing the design and delivery of all the training, as well as enabling and maximising opportunities for knowledge exchange through research and associated outputs - will be the incorporation of a broad range of visual and creative research methods and modes of communication.
The following position is now open for application within the Netherlands. Research project hosted by the University of Groningen, Department of Spatial Planning and Environment in Groningen:
ESR 6. Citizenship and Responsive Governance
Full title: A critical perspective on citizenship, collective action and responsive governance for sustainable food systems
Objectives:
Society as a whole is witnessing the ‘rise’ of individuals, groups and collectives, being associative in their desires and wishes and creative in arrangements and assemblies to getting things done. Importantly for spatial planning, such groups and individuals are also connecting sensitively to their local spaces, places and environment, making creative use of alternative sources of information and networks for the benefit of their communities. Often this is done with an underlying goal of increasing the sustainability and well-being in a place with which they are attached. These phenomena are part of a trend which has been termed by scholars and policy-makers as the ‘do-democracy’, ‘sharing economy’, ‘energetic society’ or the ‘participative society’. Active citizenship – e.g. in the form of change leaders, connectors or collective agency– can be a reaction to change or be rooted in an inner motivation to change a situation. Examples of active citizenship can be found in the form of energy cooperatives, community garden projects and co-management of land to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits. Parallel to the above trend, we see an erosion of the representative democracy in terms of decreasing trust, legitimacy, and efficiency of the state, and a pressure on the traditional European welfare state. We also witness misconceptions and pitfalls related to participation (discourse), such as the moral plea for ‘good citizens’ and the retreat of governments handing over tasks to ‘resilient’ citizens to save costs. This raises questions about the potential shift towards a ‘post-policy era’ along with its spatial and political consequences.
The aim of this research study is to critically analyze the concept of (active) citizenship and the ‘crisis’ in representative democracy and to explore how a more responsive planning can enable societal dynamics. As one main line of enquiry the project could place emphasis on exploring the ways different Urban Food Initiatives (UFI) can act as an entry point into critically rethinking urban environmental and social sustainability and power relations. Core questions in this context –include - How does food system activism enable a critical re-conceptualization of citizenship and what does citizenship in this context mean? How can responsive socio-spatial planning and governance enable citizen activism while safeguarding principles of representative democracy? Who has the responsibility to realize the sustainability and inclusiveness across the food chain in theory, and what happens in practice? Through what mechanisms are the practices of active citizens and groups being framed in a neo-liberal discourse to justify the ‘retreat’ of the state from their obligations in safeguarding the right to resources such as (healthy) food?
Expected Results:
Transdisciplinary analysis and comparison of state discourses on citizenship and the framing of rights and responsibilities (in the context of e.g. food security; environmental degradation); Analysis of practices (with the focus on UFIs) which result in an erosion of the representative democracy; exploration of the consequences of a shift towards a post-policy era; policy-recommendations for how a responsive multi-level governance can enable societal action and participation; recommendations of how planning can enhance the freedoms and wellbeing of marginalized actors in the food system.
Candidate specification
Eligibility
- applicants MUST – at the start date of the employment contract [1st September 2018] – be an ‘early stage researcher’: they must be in the first four years of their research career and NOT have a doctoral degree
- at the time of appointment by University of Groningen applicants MUST NOT have resided in or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.
Co-supervised by academic and non-academic partners, the RECOMS ESR will be encouraged to critically, practically, and creatively explore the contribution and relationships between their individual doctoral study projects across three interconnecting research themes:
- empowering and unlocking the potential of vulnerable communities to become more resourceful
- strengthening the adaptive and transformative capacity of local groups through resourceful environmental practice as critical to building community resilience
- encouraging a more just and inclusive approach to stimulating community resourcefulness by nurturing broader participation in resourceful environmental practices.
A core feature of the RECOMS programme - both with respect to informing the design and delivery of all the training, as well as enabling and maximising opportunities for knowledge exchange through research and associated outputs - will be the incorporation of a broad range of visual and creative research methods and modes of communication.
The following position is now open for application within the Netherlands. Research project hosted by the University of Groningen, Department of Spatial Planning and Environment in Groningen:
ESR 6. Citizenship and Responsive Governance
Full title: A critical perspective on citizenship, collective action and responsive governance for sustainable food systems
Objectives:
Society as a whole is witnessing the ‘rise’ of individuals, groups and collectives, being associative in their desires and wishes and creative in arrangements and assemblies to getting things done. Importantly for spatial planning, such groups and individuals are also connecting sensitively to their local spaces, places and environment, making creative use of alternative sources of information and networks for the benefit of their communities. Often this is done with an underlying goal of increasing the sustainability and well-being in a place with which they are attached. These phenomena are part of a trend which has been termed by scholars and policy-makers as the ‘do-democracy’, ‘sharing economy’, ‘energetic society’ or the ‘participative society’. Active citizenship – e.g. in the form of change leaders, connectors or collective agency– can be a reaction to change or be rooted in an inner motivation to change a situation. Examples of active citizenship can be found in the form of energy cooperatives, community garden projects and co-management of land to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits. Parallel to the above trend, we see an erosion of the representative democracy in terms of decreasing trust, legitimacy, and efficiency of the state, and a pressure on the traditional European welfare state. We also witness misconceptions and pitfalls related to participation (discourse), such as the moral plea for ‘good citizens’ and the retreat of governments handing over tasks to ‘resilient’ citizens to save costs. This raises questions about the potential shift towards a ‘post-policy era’ along with its spatial and political consequences.
The aim of this research study is to critically analyze the concept of (active) citizenship and the ‘crisis’ in representative democracy and to explore how a more responsive planning can enable societal dynamics. As one main line of enquiry the project could place emphasis on exploring the ways different Urban Food Initiatives (UFI) can act as an entry point into critically rethinking urban environmental and social sustainability and power relations. Core questions in this context –include - How does food system activism enable a critical re-conceptualization of citizenship and what does citizenship in this context mean? How can responsive socio-spatial planning and governance enable citizen activism while safeguarding principles of representative democracy? Who has the responsibility to realize the sustainability and inclusiveness across the food chain in theory, and what happens in practice? Through what mechanisms are the practices of active citizens and groups being framed in a neo-liberal discourse to justify the ‘retreat’ of the state from their obligations in safeguarding the right to resources such as (healthy) food?
Expected Results:
Transdisciplinary analysis and comparison of state discourses on citizenship and the framing of rights and responsibilities (in the context of e.g. food security; environmental degradation); Analysis of practices (with the focus on UFIs) which result in an erosion of the representative democracy; exploration of the consequences of a shift towards a post-policy era; policy-recommendations for how a responsive multi-level governance can enable societal action and participation; recommendations of how planning can enhance the freedoms and wellbeing of marginalized actors in the food system.
Candidate specification
Eligibility
- applicants MUST – at the start date of the employment contract [1st September 2018] – be an ‘early stage researcher’: they must be in the first four years of their research career and NOT have a doctoral degree
- at the time of appointment by University of Groningen applicants MUST NOT have resided in or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.
Specifications
- max. 38 hours per week
- max. €2709 per month
- Groningen View on Google Maps
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University of Groningen
Requirements
- applicants must have an MA/MSc degree in a relevant discipline, e.g. spatial planning, geography, sociology, policy administration, or related social science discipline
- excellent English language proficiency both orally and in writing to derive the full benefit from the network training. An IELTS English language test will be required, achieving an overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
- research experience in the field of the specific ESR position
- knowledge of and/or experience in collaborative approaches to sustainable resource management
- knowledge and experience of qualitative research methods.
Additional requirements
- in accordance with the mobility goals of Marie Curie Innovative Training Networks, appointed candidates will be required to visit other network partners for secondments, and attend research and training events for the network. Whilst the individual training events will require one-two weeks travel only, the secondments (which will be hosted by the consortium institutions) will each require a residence of three months. All eligible costs will be fully funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme
- candidates should possess a strong affinity with the RECOMS topic, be motivated to practice multi- and transdisciplinary forms of research inquiry and action-learning, and wish to gain a broad and advanced range of scientific and professional skills
- candidates should understand the aims, rules and procedures of MSCA Innovative Training Networks
- candidates should have an interest in engaging with, applying and receiving training in visual and creative methods and forms of communication. Whilst evidence of direct prior experience is desirable, it is not essential
- the ability to work as part of a team and the ambition to engage in participatory and collaborative forms of research and learning are essential
- candidates will be expected to mainly work under supervision but also taking full delivery responsibility for individual tasks.
- excellent English language proficiency both orally and in writing to derive the full benefit from the network training. An IELTS English language test will be required, achieving an overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)
- research experience in the field of the specific ESR position
- knowledge of and/or experience in collaborative approaches to sustainable resource management
- knowledge and experience of qualitative research methods.
Additional requirements
- in accordance with the mobility goals of Marie Curie Innovative Training Networks, appointed candidates will be required to visit other network partners for secondments, and attend research and training events for the network. Whilst the individual training events will require one-two weeks travel only, the secondments (which will be hosted by the consortium institutions) will each require a residence of three months. All eligible costs will be fully funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme
- candidates should possess a strong affinity with the RECOMS topic, be motivated to practice multi- and transdisciplinary forms of research inquiry and action-learning, and wish to gain a broad and advanced range of scientific and professional skills
- candidates should understand the aims, rules and procedures of MSCA Innovative Training Networks
- candidates should have an interest in engaging with, applying and receiving training in visual and creative methods and forms of communication. Whilst evidence of direct prior experience is desirable, it is not essential
- the ability to work as part of a team and the ambition to engage in participatory and collaborative forms of research and learning are essential
- candidates will be expected to mainly work under supervision but also taking full delivery responsibility for individual tasks.
Conditions of employment
Fixed-term contract: 36 months.
The University of Groningen offers, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, a salary of € 2,222 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 2,709 gross per month in the third and final year, based on a full-time position (1.0 FTE), excluding a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and a 8.3% end-of-the-year bonus.In addition to individual scientific projects, the ESR will benefit from research collaboration within the RECOMS network, extensive joint training opportunities, and collaboration with non-academic organizations.
How to apply
You may apply for this position until 1 March 23:59 / before 2 March 2018 (Dutch local time) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the University website).
Please submit your application in English.
Applicants are permitted to apply for a maximum of three positions from across the total 15 RECOMS ESR vacancies. For information on all the ESR positions hosted inside and outside The Netherlands see:
www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directories/current-projects/2017/recoms/
Applicants are required to submit:
- a full CV
- a motivation letter (maximum 2 pages)
- the names of two referees (to be called upon should you be short-listed)
- proof of eligibility as an annex where relevant, including a) proof that you have no more experience than 4 years as a researcher, b) proof that you did not spend more than 12 months in the last 3 years in the Netherlands, and c) proof of English language proficiency.
Please make a separate application for each position to which you are applying*. Multiple applications will not influence the selection chance in any particular project. Please mention on every application all ESR projects to which an application is being submitted.
By submitting an application, the candidate is consenting to their application being shared with the Selection Committee and the RECOMS coordinator. If you are short-listed for interview, please note the interview panel will consist of the host and non-host institution RECOMS partners. Your application will be available to all panel members from submission for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the post.
[*Please take care to ensure that applications for individual ESR/PhD positions are submitted directly to the respective host institutions – only applications for the positions hosted by RUG/RWS should be submitted via the RUG recruitment portal]
Additional information
Note: short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview during April/May 2018. Where candidates are short-listed for an interview they will be required to prepare a short doctoral study project research plan. Further information will be provided at the point of announcement of short-listing.
Start date: 1 September 2018
Duration: 36 months (fixed term)
Frequently asked Questions: www.coventry.ac.uk/Global/05%20Research%20section%20assets/Research/CAWR/recoms/Recruitment/FAQ.pdf
General information about the Marie Sklodowska Curie (MSCA) Innovative Training Network programme: ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/about/innovative-training-networks_en
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Department
Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Research project hosted by the University of Groningen, Department of Spatial Planning and Environment in Groningen.Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. Ranked among the European top in the field of academic research, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge.
The Faculty of Spatial Sciences consists of 95 members of staff and focuses on high quality teaching and research in the fields of spatial planning, economic and cultural geography and demography.
The Department of Spatial Planning & Environment has a research agenda which centres on the relationships between spatial transformation and institutional innovation. The Department is responsible for 1 bachelor and two master programmes. The Department is looking for researchers with an interest in innovative, transdisciplinary and transformative approaches to promoting and facilitating resourceful and resilient community environmental practice.
About RECOMS
Funded by the European Commission (2018-2022), RECOMS is comprised of a transdisciplinary consortium of scientists, practitioners and change agents from eleven public (universities and government research centres), private and non-profit organisations, located in six European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, England, Finland, Germany and The Netherlands. The purpose of RECOMS is to train 15 ESRs/ doctoral candidates in innovative, transdisciplinary and transformative approaches to promoting and facilitating resourceful and resilient community environmental practice. By delivering an advanced programme of training in both scientific and professional skills, RECOMS will enable ESRs to pursue an academic career or high-professional career in either the public, private or third sector (e.g. government, university, NGO, consultancy, business or charitable body). For further information on RECOMS, inclusive of the full network of 15 ESR doctoral positions currently open for recruitment see:
www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directories/current-projects/2017/recoms/
