Leiden University Postdoctoral Researcher

The Institute for History at the University of Leiden invites applications for:

Postdoctoral Researcher (3 years, 0.8 fte)
The Postdoctoral Researcher will be part of an ERC-funded research team on international coalitions for peace in the era of decolonization, 1918-1970 (RECONPAX, led by dr. Carolien Stolte).

Project description:
How did peace movements act upon the interlinked processes of decolonization and the Cold War? And how did these processes, in turn, impact the ability of different peace movements to come together in large international organizations for peace? This project studies attempts to build large international coalitions for peace in the period 1918-1970.

It departs from the assumption that, while peace movements reached out to each other in pursuit of shared goals, they did not necessarily share common methods and ideas.

Attempts to include organizations from the decolonizing world into existing international bodies brought different understandings of peace work to the surface.

This project brings historical depth to an issue of continuing relevance to the international order. It challenges the focus on the Cold War in relevant literatures as the primary factor in the development of international peace organizations. It does so in two ways: by taking a longue durée perspective that incorporates precedents set by peace movements after the First World War; and by turning the lens on the long decolonization process rather than on superpower competition. The project hypothesizes that the challenges posed by decolonization and the end of empire were the dominant drivers of success and failure in building international coalitions for peace.

All project members work on peace movements in different regions, bringing these movements in conversation with each other. For this position, we are recruiting specifically for a postdoctoral researcher with a focus on the MENA region and commensurate research skills and experience.

Key responsibilities:

• Conducting and disseminating research on the topic of peace movements in (a part of) the MENA region;
• Active participation in the research group’s activities, publications, and other dissemination activities;
• Co-organizing workshops and conferences.

Requirements:

• A recent PhD in History, Area Studies, or a related discipline, held by the time of appointment and no earlier than 1 January 2022;
• A demonstrable affinity with the history of internationalism, pacifism, and/or decolonization;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of an international research group;
• Excellent command of English and at least one additional relevant research language, preferably Arabic;
• Willingness to relocate to the Netherlands, as this position includes regular in-person meetings in Leiden.

More information and application

Deadline: November 1, 2024