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PhD scholarship at DIIS and RUC on emerging economies and large-scale land acquisitions in Africa
A PhD scholarship funded jointly by the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) and Roskilde University (RUC) is available from 1 September 2011 or soon thereafter.
The PhD scholarship must be completed over a 3-year period and presupposes enrolment in the PhD programme at the Graduate School of International Development Studies at Roskilde University.
The position will be jointly placed in DIIS’s research unit Global Economy, Regulation and Development and International Development Studies at RUC.
In the past few years, large overseas land acquisitions for food and biofuels production have taken place in Latin America, Africa and Asia and the term ‘land grabbing’ has become widely used in the media.
While these land acquisitions are nothing new, the increased level of activity and the emergence of new players such as China, South Korea, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia indicate not only that the scale of land acquisitions is increasing, but also that a new range of emerging economies are beginning to become major global economic powers.
The role of emerging economies in the current land rush is therefore an interesting subject for further research both from a global economic and political perspective and also from a local development perspective. For example, we know very little about the alliances in investor countries between national governments, corporations and local authorities in securing overseas land.
What are the institutional characteristics and dynamics of these public-private ventures? What happens during contract negotiations between foreign investors, host countries and regions, especially in Africa? Who are the actors and what power dynamics are at play between the foreign buyer, the host government, local elites and the rural poor?
How is a perceived or real global resource shortage affecting the marginalized rural poor in the areas where land acquisitions are taking place?
The PhD project is expected to combine fieldwork-based studies of local experiences with land acquisitions in selected African countries with the analysis of new dynamics at play between international business, emerging economies, national governments, local political and economic elites, and the rural poor.
A modest sum for fieldwork has been secured for the project, but the successful applicant is expected to mobilize additional funds for fieldwork.
PhD candidates are paid a salary according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The PhD candidate has a work obligation of up to 840 hours over the 3-year period without additional pay.
Applications are invited from candidates with a Master’s Degree and top academic qualifications. All qualified applicants – regardless of national, ethnic or religious background, gender, age or sexual orientation – are encouraged to apply.
The application should be in English and include a CV, documentation (copies) of examinations passed and a short statement on how the candidate’s previous studies, research and experience will contribute to the project (max 2 pages).
Applications must be submitted in three copies marked “PhD – Emerging Economies” addressed to Director Nanna Hvidt, DIIS, Strandgade 56, DK-1401 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Applications should reach DIIS no later than Thursday, 19 May 2011 at 12.00 noon. Electronic applications or enclosures will not be accepted.
For any further question about the PhD scholarship, please contact Stefano Ponte (e-mail: [email protected]) or Christian Lund (e-mail: [email protected]).
