The Department of Politics at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA, Bucharest, Romania) invites applications for 2 positions of Associate Postdoctoral Fellows to work within the interdisciplinary ERC Consolidator Project Transnational Advocacy Networks and Corporate Accountability for Major International Crimes (CORPACCOUNT), led by Dr. Raluca Grosescu.
Positions: 2 Associate Postdoctoral Fellows (Cercetător Științific 3)
Period: 12-month contract (with the possibility of extension) starting on 1 November 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter (according to the appointed person’s time schedule and the time of obtaining the working permit in Romania).
Number of Hours per Month: Part Time (4h/day)
Salary: 925 Euro Net/month.
Description of the Project: CORPACCOUNT examines/explores transnational mobilisations and counter-mobilisations for holding multinational corporations and their representatives accountable for complicity in major international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity) committed during dictatorships and violent conflicts since the 1970s. It focuses on three major innovations to the current literature on corporate accountability: 1) It will deliver a critical sociological analysis of both advocacy movements and business groups and associations involved in transnational accountability campaigns, studying their political, professional and regional activist agendas and divergent approaches to corporate liability. 2) It will analyse various ideas and strategies for dealing with corporate violence and illuminate the socio-political conditions under which they succeed in enforcing accountability. 3) It will explore how different visions of human rights, economic globalisation, development and democratisation shape accountability strategies. The research centres on four types of transnational campaigns that spread across the Global South and the Global North and on the resulting response from states, international organisations, and business groups: a) advocacy for criminalising corporate misconduct in international/regional treaties; b) civil and criminal litigations; c) legislative initiatives for prohibiting trade with and investment in dictatorial settings; and d) boycotts. The project will examine different historical, political and geographical contexts from anti-Apartheid mobilisations to corporate accountability in Latin America after the military dictatorships, African contexts such as Sudan and Nigeria, and Asia countries such as Myanmar.
Role: We aim to recruit 2 researchers working as following:
- Researcher 1 will examine in transnational and intersectoral perspective the contribution of Argentinean trade unions & epistemic communities to the criminalization/denunciation of economic actors’ complicity in mass crimes through civil and criminal litigations, memorialization processes, historiographical projects, negotiations of international/regional treaties etc.
- Researcher 2 will examine the Nigerian transnational mobilizations for criminalizing the economic actors’ complicity in gross human rights violations and severe degradation of the environment through civil and criminal litigations, memorialization processes, historiographical projects, negotiations of international/regional treaties
The two researchers will corroborate their own perspectives on the topic with the CORPACCOUNT project’s main research directions and will conduct archival research and interviews in the above-mentioned countries. They will participate in the project’s monthly meetings (fiscally or online) in order to play a full role in the collaborative aspects of the project, including international conferences and events, co-authored and co-edited publications. The posts include an annual research and travel allowance.
Conditions for applying:
- PhD in political science, sociology, law, history, or
- A strong academic track record with significant experience in conducting research on corporate accountability, business and human rights, (transnational) social movements, post-dictatorial/post-conflict justice, sociology of international law, or transnational politics/activism, preferably including archival and oral history
- Archival Research Experience & Experience in Conducting Interviews
- Excellent knowledge of the English language and the native language of the studied country;
- Research experience in Africa / Latin America
Candidates are asked to submit the following documents at corpaccount@politice.ro Only applications in English and PDF format will be assessed (the PhD diploma & ID card will be sent in the original language; the writing sample can be in English or other language of international circulation).
- CV (maximum 2 pages). Please state your email address, phone number
- List of most relevant publications (maximum 10 titles) & One academic writing sample (journal article or draft, book chapter, PhD chapter, )
- Cover letter detailing how the academic qualifications and experience of the applicant meet the requirements for the position and how the candidate’s profile will contribute to the development of the Please specify which position you are applying for (maximum 2 pages)
- Research plan detailing how you envisage to develop the research on one the above- mentioned topic and how you see your own contribution to the core research questions and goals of CORPACCOUNT (max. 2 pages)
- Names and contacts of 2 referees
- Copy of your PhD diploma/certificate
- Copy of your ID Card / Passport
- GDPR form (signed and dated) – according to Annex 1
Before applying you might want to consult with Dr. Raluca Grosescu: ralucagrosescu@gmail.com
Selection Criteria:
- CV, List of Publications, and Writing Sample (20 points)
- Cover Letter (30 points)
- Research Plan (50 points)
- Candidates who will obtain 80 points will be invited for an online
Calendar: The deadline for submission is 6 October 2023, 4pm CET time. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 9 October 2023 and invited for an interview to be held on 16
October 2023. The results will be announced by email on 17 October 2023. Contestations can be sent to corpaccount@politice.ro until 18 October 2023, 4pm CET time. The final results will be announced on 20 October 2023. The Contract will start 1 November 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.
