PhD Research Fellowship “Preventing radicalization in Scandinavia”, Oslo (Norvège) – LIMITE : 19/10/2014

The PhD Research Fellowship will contribute to the NFR funded research project
“Searching the unknown: discourses and effects of preventing radicalization in Scandinavia” (RADISKAN).

In this call we are seeking a PhD fellow to carry out a sub-study within the larger interdisciplinary research project RADISKAN, led by FFI (Norwegian Defense Research Establishment). The project is a collaboration between researchers from FFI, Fafo-Institute for Applied International Studies, and the University of Aarhus, and funded by the Norwegian Research Council’s program SAMRISK II.

Preferably starting date January 2015 and ending December 2017.

RADISKAN focuses on the Scandinavian countries’ effort against radicalization and violent extremism. Taking the three national action plans against radicalization as point of departure, we ask what discourses on what levels inform preventive actions and how they impact ‘suspect communities’ and society at large. Given little detailed knowledge about the form and extend of radicalization and successful counter-radicalization measures, the project will explore how categories of potentially ‘vulnerable’ individuals and groups are created – and  how this furthermore impact levels of trust and distrust within society and within different groups.

Discourses of radicalization will serve as threads and conjunction, which interlink the two main fields of the project’s investigation:
a) Discourses and ideas of radicalization and the creation of potential target groups;
b) The impact of targeting certain groups on these groups and the individuals.
Comparative, ethnographic research will take place in Danish, Swedish and Norwegian communities.

The successful PhD candidate will conduct one of the project’s sub-studies, a local-level ethnographic study in Sweden. Taking the Swedish action plan “Safeguarding democracy against violence-promoting extremism” (2011) as point of departure the candidate is expected to develop an empirically based, multi-sited research proposal which deal with the projects two main fields of investigation;
a) The creation of potential target groups and
b) The impact of targeting certain groups.
There is scope for the applicant to develop both the theoretical and methodological content of this sub-study. The applicant is expected to conduct 6 to 12 months of ethnographic fieldwork.

The person appointed will be based at FFI. Appointment is provisional on acceptance to the PhD training program at a Norwegian University. The successful PhD candidate is expected to participate in the research training program organized by the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences or the Faculty of Law, and must engage in the designated research activities on a full-time basis. The purpose of the PhD Research Fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a doctoral thesis (monograph or articles-based) to be defended at a public defense for the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to participate in the RADISKAN research group and contribute to its development.

 Further requirements:

• A relevant Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably in anthropology, sociology, peace and conflict studies, criminology or related disciplines within the social sciences and the humanities.
• Demonstrated understanding of ethnographic and qualitative methods and analysis
• Organizational and communication skills (including written and spoken English)
• Good cooperative skills, and the ability to join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines
• Experience of a collaborative working environment is an advantage

We offer

• Salary level 52-58 (nkr. 443 600 – 491 100)
• A challenging and stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare arrangements

Evaluation of the application

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s project descriptions. Furthermore academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project will be taken into account. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

The application should be marked ref. nr. 2014/01608 and must include:

• Project proposal including research topic and research question, state of the art in the specific research field, research design, methodology and timeframe. The proposal must not exceed 4000 words.
• Letter of interest, with specific reference to how the applicant can contribute to the themes to be addressed in the RADISKAN project
• Curriculum Vitae, including a summary of education, grades and employment
• Complete list of publications and relevant academic papers
• Copies of educational certificates
• 2 letters of recommendation

Submit your application online through www.ffi.no<http://www.ffi.no/> – deadline is October 19th. 2014.

Contacts:

• Scientist Monica Endregard + 47 63 80 78 98 or 900 92 308
• Scientist Therese Sandrup + 47 63 80 75 29
• Scientist Nerina Weiss +47 23 06 08 25  Nerina.Weiss@fafomail.no<mailto:Nerina.Weiss@fafomail.no>