In the period 2019-2023, Leiden University’s Executive Board (CvB) will invest 3.5 million euros in the inter-disciplinary focus area “Citizenship, Migration and Global Transformations”. Within this initiative, funding for the pillar on “Global transformations: Challenges for citizens, democratic states, and international cooperation” allows the Institute of Political Science and the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) to jointly appoint a Full Professor of Global Transformations and Governance Challenges.

Globalization, migration, technological innovation and climate change pose challenges to democratic governments, international institutions and citizens all over the world. These challenges test the limits of the previously existing international order, democratic governments and states and cross-national and cross-generational solidarities, touching upon the very foundations of governance and society. Trade and information technology combine globalisation effects to undermine the ability of states to govern and make policies as they did before the advent of the last waves of globalization. The ability of existing international organizations to address global issues is undermined by changing dynamics of power and challenges by rising global powers. New communication technologies, in particular social media, are promoting new identities and communities of citizens while potentially destabilizing democracies by undermining social cohesion and increasing polarization. Climate change and other environmental processes challenge the adaptive capacity of international and national institutions. These complex challenges raise critical and urgent questions that are best answered by inter-disciplinary teams of scholars working in political economy, international relations, law, history, public administration, and other disciplines.

In order to address these challenges, the Institute of Political Science and the Institute of Security and Global Affairs seek to jointly appoint a Professor Global Transformations and Governance Challenges to take the lead in the new research programme that seeks to develop better understanding of the complex challenges to democracy and the liberal international order and their impact on citizens and democratic politics. We aim to develop a set of innovative approaches to the problems and questions of global governance and to identify more effective and sustainable governance responses that citizens will support and contribute to.

The new professor will hold a joint appointment in the Institute of Political Science (0.5 FTE) and the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (0.5 FTE). During the first three years of the appointment, the new professor will focus principally on research and research-promotion. In particular, the holder of the new Chair is expected to conduct and promote research addressing the following questions:

• How are familiar and emerging cross-border dynamics, as well as the rise of new world powers, challenging existing governance institutions at national and global levels? 
• How are global issues and cross-border movements changing individual attitudes toward national sovereignty, democratic accountability, and the legitimacy of liberal democracy?
• How are changing public expectations affecting national governments’ interest in joint decision-making on global issues, international rule-making and rule-enforcement, and their openness to cross-border movements?
• What concrete innovations are necessary to make global governance mechanisms more effective at addressing today’s cross-border issues while ensuring their democratic legitimacy at a time of declining trust in public institutions?

In disciplinary terms, the new professor will bridge two major sub-fields of political science (comparative politics and international relations) and interdisciplinary approaches to global affairs. It is also likely that she/he will draw on and engage with scholarship in public policy, international law and other fields.

The Joint Chair will not only stimulate research and impact for both Institutes, but also contribute to wider future initiatives of relevance for the University as a whole, such as the Leiden University Center for International Relations (LUCIR).

Key responsibilities
For the first three years, the Joint Chair’s responsibilities and contributions would include:

• Developing a comprehensive research agenda on Global Transformations and Innovative Governance and translating it into high impact publications;
• Attracting further external funding for the development and sustainability of the Focus Area of Global Transformations;
• Actively participating in the network of researchers involved in the citizenship and global transformation focus areas and developing initiatives to promote synergies between both pillars;
• Contributing to directing the multi-faculty Leiden University Centre for International Relations (LUCIR), including management of seed funding and other activities to promote research collaboration and to raise the university’s national and international profile in this area;
• Contributing actively to the establishment and maintenance of international research collaborations and exchanges with policy-makers in The Hague, Brussels and other major policy hubs;
• Supervising a post-doctoral researcher (recruited simultaneously) working in the same thematic area;
• Supervision of PhD researchers, starting with co-supervision of a PhD researcher appointed in the Institute of History;
• Teaching two courses per year - one in each of the home institutes.

The appointed joint Chair in Global Transformations and Governance Challenges will have:

• A PhD in the areas of political science, history, sociology, political economy or related sub-disciplines;
• International visibility and recognition appropriate to the stage of their career;
• High profile publications in well-established international academic outlets;
• Demonstrable commitment to developing an interdisciplinary research programme;
• Experience in directing (parts of) a research project or program and proven track-record of successful grant acquisition;
• Ability to foster inter-faculty cooperation and networking with major external stakeholders.

The Chair will have an appointment for an initial duration of five years, subject to tenure on condition of good performance. Salary range from €5,582.- to €8,127.- gross per month based on a full-time position (pay scale HL2, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at information at: Application process and working conditions.

Leiden University

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. It is the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in February 1575, and currently ranks in the top 100 of most international rankings. The University has approximately 23,000 students and 4,000 staff members.

Leiden University’s Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, located in The Hague - the International City of Peace and Justice - offers a range of other programs focused on international relations, security, international law and international organization. It hosts the interdisciplinary Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), the Institute of Public Administration, the Centre for Professional Learning, the Dual PhD Centre and the Leiden University College (LUC), an international honors college of Leiden University situated in The Hague. Firmly rooted in the academic tradition, the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs provides an inspiring and challenging education and research environment, with a strong interdisciplinary character and international orientation; it is a meeting place for students, scholars and professionals, a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences comprises four institutes: Education and Child Studies, Political Science, Psychology and Cultural Anthropology & Development Sociology. The Faculty also includes the Centre for Science and Technology Studies. The Faculty is home to 5,000 students and 600 members of staff. Our teaching and research programmes cover diverse topics varying from adoption to political behaviour. For more information see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en