PhD in International Union Politics: Organized Labor in Democratic Life

Applications are invited for a fully-funded four-year PhD position in international relations at the University of Groningen, focusing on the transnational role of unions and the effects of unionization in the democratic public spheres of the industrialized states of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

What are you going to do?

The recently renewed global push towards unionization after decades of decline in union membership, the changed class structure of the international labor movement, which is driven in large part by members of the precariat rather than the traditional proletariat, has once again put labor organizing on both the political (and academic agenda). From a theoretical perspective, this transnational phenomenon has driven a resurgence in thinking about the legitimacy and transformational potential of labor militancy, both in the workplace and in society at large. Empirically, scholars have sought to use past examples of strikes and labor organizing to better understand this contemporary movement and where it is likely to lead. However, there has been little investigation of what role unions can and should play in political debate, despite their newfound relevance and voice. In light of this lacuna, there is a need for further theoretical, historical and evidence-based investigation of the international role of unions in modern democratic societies.

Drawing on political theory, this project considers how unions, unionization, and union membership contribute to democratic life and democratic political thinking in this new constellation of international labor. It will do so through a careful empirical and historical study of unions across a number of international case studies, examining how their participation in democratic society does or does not influence both formal politics and political culture more generally. The research aims to consider the material and theoretical links between workplace democracy and political democracy internationally, an intersection that is rarely studied. The timeframe and geographic scope of the project are open to the interests and skills of the doctoral candidate to be hired.

The PhD Project

In the PhD project, jointly supervised by Dr Peter Verovšek (International Relations) and Dr Jason Resnikoff (Contemporary History), the selected candidate will identify their own interdisciplinary focus and interest within the broad framework set out above. Candidates are asked to formulate and explain their focus in a research proposal, in which they describe the research idea, possible primary sources, and academic disciplines relevant to the project. Please note that an interdisciplinary focus is fundamental to this project, which means that candidates are encouraged to find connections between different disciplines and types of sources.

During the four-year PhD position, you will be asked to:

• Write and complete a dissertation within the framework of the project.
• Publish and present a number of academic and popular articles and/or papers about your research (in discussion with your supervisors).
• Participate in teaching activities in the programs of International Relations and History at the University of Groningen.
• Complete the PhD project in the specified timeframe (4 years).

To be competitive for the position, prospective candidates must have:

• A Research Master’s or Master’s degree in International Relations, History, Political Science, Political Theory or any other relevant discipline in the Humanities, with an above average final grade. Please note that candidates who are about to graduate are also welcome to apply. In that case they need to have finished their (R)MA programme before the interviews.
• A special interest in and knowledge of political theory and labor politics (demonstrated by a BA or MA thesis, publications or previous research experience).
• Excellent command of academic writing and speaking skills in both English and the language(s) of the region under investigation.
• The ability to develop your own research interests and academic profile, in collaboration with your supervisors.

The following would be assets for prospective candidates:

• Experience with archival research.
• A knowledge of labor history.
• Familiarity with the political theory of the public sphere

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

The Faculty of Arts is a large and dynamic faculty located in the heart of the city of Groningen. More than 5,500 students and 900 staff work every day at the frontiers of knowledge. The Faculty offers a diverse range of academic programmes, with 16 Bachelor's programmes and over 40 Master's programmes. With its strong international orientation, the Faculty conducts research in fields including archaeology, cultural studies, history, international relations, journalism, literature, and linguistics. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Arts, visit rug.nl/let. 

Department of International Relations and International Organization (IRIO)

IRIO hosts about 1,000 students, which makes it the biggest International Relations (IR) department in The Netherlands. IRIO is unique in its sort: it teaches international relations not as a specialization track (within political science or history) but as independent BA and MA degree programmes. The department is committed to top-tier research combined with high-quality teaching. This is enhanced by the fact that IRIO uses a yearly ‘numerus fixus’ when selecting new students for the BA, which implies that only the best are allowed to enter the programme. The commitment to excellence is apparent at both undergraduate, graduate and PhD levels.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Jason Resnikoff (Assistant Professor): j.z.resnikoff@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Gooitske Nijboer (Management/Office-assistant): G.J.Nijboer@rug.nl