For the EU Horizon programme REDIRECT: REdesiging Representative Democracy: DIagnosis and strategies for RECTification, Eline Severs and Dimokritos Kavadias (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Political Science) are recruiting a PhD researcher.
Concretely, the project will focus on “Brussels Youth and Redesigning Representative Democracy”: Based on qualitative research methods (focus groups, interviews, observations, participatory methods,…) you analyse how Brussels youth view contemporary politics and how they evaluate the central political institutions and actors. You will reflect on the way in which contemporary society is characterized by multiple, overlapping crises (climate, migration, populism, Covid-19,…). How does crisis discourse influence young people's political attitudes and how does it shape their view of politics? You actively involve young people in your research and implement processes of co-creation that allow you to determine together with Brussels young people what democracy is and how we can (better) put it into practice. In addition to contemporary discourse on crisis, the notion of a 'representative disconnect' (a feeling of being underrepresented or misrepresented) is also central to your research. What (institutional) interventions are necessary so that citizens and, in particular, young people can reconnect with politics?
The successful candidate is expected to start February 15th 2023 (or the earliest thereafter).
Applications can be submitted online until January 15th. More information and instructions can be found in the vacancy adds, see below:
- Dutch vacancy add: https://jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-Aanbieding-doctoraatsbeurs/882728801
- English vacancy add: https://jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-Aanbieding-doctoraatsbeurs/882728901