This PhD project at The Open University investigates the semantics and discursive evolution of the term 'capital' and its derivatives, such as 'capitalism', within business, media, and policy discourse. The research aims to understand how 'capital' is framed across different contexts—ranging from financial to human, social, and natural capital—and how these framings influence the ideological construction of capitalism as a system. The project is flexible, allowing the successful candidate to tailor the research focus according to their interests and background, with the supervisory team open to a variety of methodologies and theoretical perspectives.

Potential research topics include the use and framing of 'capital' in various discourses, the positioning of alternative forms of capital, the semantic and ideological evolution of 'capitalism', and the potential for reframing discourses to reflect more inclusive or sustainable values. The findings are expected to provide insights into the construction and contestation of business ideologies through language, with implications for business education, corporate communication, and policy discourse. The candidate will be expected to develop specific research questions, produce three publishable working papers over three years, and contribute both theoretically and empirically to the field.

The ideal applicant will have a background in linguistics, discourse analysis, or business communication, and a strong interest in language and ideology. The project is available for both campus-based and distance learning. The supervisory team includes Dr Ruth Dimes, whose expertise lies in corporate reporting, corporate social responsibility, and text-based analysis using NLP, and Dr Philip Seargeant, who specializes in political discourse, narrative, and the use of language in persuasion and propaganda. No specific funding is mentioned for this position.

The application deadline is January 7, 2026.