RRUSHES-5 Project Abstract

Recent global commodity rushes have profoundly influenced societies across the globe. At least a quarter of a billion hectares of land have been affected, reshaping livelihoods and social and political relations. Contemporary commodity rushes are more complex and far-reaching than those we have seen before, requiring new thinking and practice in order to respond to such unprecedented challenges. This project aims to explore contemporary commodity rushes, centred on the reconfiguration of land use and ownership, examining the implications for five spheres of global social life. We will ask: How do contemporary global commodity rushes reshape the politics of food, climate, labour and citizenship, as well as geopolitics in different contexts? To answer this, we will look into the possible structural, institutional and political shifts caused by commodity rushes within commodity and land regimes and in the five spheres of global social life. Guided by a multi-disciplinary theoretical framework and grounded empirical work, we will engage in practical policy questions aimed at probing the potential for socially just and ecologically sustainable reforms. These reforms will be anchored in the social justice principles of redistribution, recognition and restitution of wealth and power, and the regeneration and recalibration of human–nature relations. We will study global, regional and national dynamics around commodity rushes and regimes, and the five spheres of global social life in Africa (Ethiopia), Asia (Myanmar), and Latin America (Colombia). The role of Chinese investments in the global land rush will be of central interest. This project will change the way we study the recent commodity and land rushes, demonstrating why and how they concern not only the 3.5 billion people who live in rural areas, but the entire world population. Conversely, it will demonstrate why it is not possible to understand what happens in the five spheres of global social life without comprehending how these, separately and together, interact with commodity and land rushes.

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS, The Hague) of Erasmus University Rotterdam invites high-quality applications for a 3-year full-time one Postdoctoral position to start in the last quarter of 2019. The position is part of a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant awarded project “Commodity & Land Rushes and Regimes: Reshaping Five Spheres of Global Social Life (RRUSHES-5)”. This research project – hosted in the Political Ecology (PE) Research Group – will study recent transactions in land and land use change and how these impact the general situation around the issues of food, climate change politics, geopolitics, labour and migration, and state–citizen relations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The project will mainly focus on Colombia, Ethiopia and Myanmar. Applicants must have a strong demonstrable interest in the thematic areas of land politics and policies (including contemporary ‘global resource rush’), climate change politics, resource conflict, global agrarian transformations and other topics relevant to the themes of the project. The main task of the post-doctoral researcher will be to conduct research within the framework of the project including conducting fieldwork which will lead to international quality publications, and to undertake other project tasks allocated by the Principal Investigator (PI).  

• A PhD awarded within the last 4 years in development studies and with a focus on agrarian transformation and development
• An emerging track record in peer-reviewed independent academic publications in top-rated journals relevant to this project’s research theme.
• Demonstrated knowledge of advanced Mandarin Chinese for academic writing.
• Extensive fieldwork experience in China.
• Advanced knowledge of Chinese politics and policies as it relates to Chinese investments inside China and abroad, BRICS, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and agrarian transformation and development.
• Solid knowledge of statistical techniques and ability to deal with big datasets and archives, including those written in Chinese.
• A demonstrated ability to work flexibly and collaboratively in a diverse international research team.
• Able to start in the last quarter of 2019.

The successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible and will be based at ISS in The Hague. A full-time, three year contract with Erasmus University Rotterdam will be offered. In accordance with the conditions applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam as indicated in the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO NU) of the Dutch universities, the salary is dependent on the candidates’ experience and ranges from € 2.709,- to € 4.274,- gross per month, on a fulltime basis. In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits.

The International Institute of Social Studies is committed to building and sustaining a community based on inclusiveness, equity and diversity and believes this will contribute to our mission and vision of being the best institute in our field. ISS is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities and nationalities.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), named after the 15th century Rotterdam-born humanist and theologian Desiderius Erasmus, is a research university with a strong international orientation and a pronounced social focus, both in its education and research activities. The expertise of Erasmus University Rotterdam is concentrated in eight faculties or institutes focusing on Economics, Medicine and Health Sciences, Law, Social Sciences, History and Arts, Business Administration, Philosophy and Development Studies. In addition to initial degree programmes and scientific research, the University offers specific postgraduate study programmes and courses. Erasmus University has around 25,000 students and approximately 2,800 staff members comprising more than 100 nationalities.

International Institute of Social Studies

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) is a leading academic centre for international development studies. While based in The Hague, the ISS is part of Erasmus University Rotterdam. ISS was established in 1952 as a post-graduate institute of policy-oriented critical social science and development-oriented research. ISS offers a PhD in Development Studies, a 15,5 month MA in Development Studies, a joint MA in Public Policy (Mundus MAPP), a MPA in Governance delivered in Suriname, and post-graduate Diploma courses.

ISS brings together a highly diverse international community of scholars and students from both the global South and the global North, on average, originating from over 50 different countries. The Institute brings together people, ideas and insights in a multi-disciplinary setting which nurtures, fosters and promotes critical thinking and innovative research on fundamental social problems. The strong partnerships with organizations and individuals in developing countries make up a vibrant network where we co-create knowledge so that teaching and research remain socially relevant. Key to the ISS philosophy and practices is the wish to contribute to achieving social justice and equity on a global level.

As part of its Research Strategy, the Institute currently pursues four multidisciplinary, cross-cutting research themes: environment and climate change; conflict and peace; social protection and inequality; and migration and diversity.