ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative PhD Studentship – Civil Resistance and the Onset of Peace Processes University of Leeds in United Kingdom

[Fully funded studentship at standard UKRI rates (£20,780 in Session 2025/26), covering fees and maintenance. Includes a 3-month Research in Practice placement with Berghof Foundation.]

The ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative PhD Studentship, titled ‘Civil Resistance and the Onset of Peace Processes’, is offered at the University of Leeds in partnership with the Berghof Foundation Operations GmbH. This fully funded opportunity provides fees and maintenance at standard UKRI rates (£20,780 in Session 2025/26), and includes a unique 3-month Research in Practice placement with the Berghof Foundation, a leading NGO in peace support and conflict transformation.

The project addresses a critical gap in peace studies: understanding how civil resistance movements influence the initiation of peace processes in civil war contexts. While much research has focused on armed actors and international interventions, this studentship investigates the role of unarmed, organised actors—civil resistance movements—in shaping peace negotiations. The research will systematically examine and theorize the impact of these movements in the Colombian Havana Peace Process and the Sudanese Juba Peace Process, using comparative qualitative methods. The approach integrates semi-structured interviews with activists and negotiators, process tracing, and abductive theory-building, offering a rich, interdisciplinary perspective.

Berghof Foundation’s involvement ensures practical engagement with peace support programs and civil society initiatives in conflict-affected countries. The placement provides hands-on experience in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, working directly with thematic and regional programs in Colombia and Sudan.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in political science, international relations, sociology, or related fields, and demonstrate interest or experience in qualitative research, peace studies, or conflict transformation. English language proficiency is required for non-native speakers, as per University of Leeds standards. The application deadline is 11 March 2026 (17:00 UK time), and candidates are encouraged to review the ESRC White Rose DTP Collaborative Studentships 2026 guidelines and contact the Admissions Team for application queries. For project-specific questions, Dr. Margherita Belgioioso is the main academic contact.

This studentship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the understanding of civil resistance in peace processes, gain practical experience with a major NGO, and join a vibrant research community at the University of Leeds.