3 PhD Positions in Middle Eastern Studies, Party Systems, and Social Cleavages at the Oriental Institute (Czech Academy of Sciences) Oriental Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences in Czech Republic

PhD opportunity in Middle Eastern Studies / History / Historical Sociology at the Oriental Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences (Prague). The ERC Synergy project CLOSER is recruiting 3 PhD positions for historians to study party systems, social cleavages, and political movements in the post-Ottoman Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The project covers Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, and Turkey, from 1908 to the present, and brings together political scientists, geographers, and historians across the Oriental Institute, the Institute of International Relations Prague, and the Free University of Brussels.

Research themes include: national consolidation and party politics; state-building and social cleavages; and nation-states and minorities. The historical work emphasizes primary sources in original languages, regional/global historical context, and the genealogy of political and social change. Candidates are especially encouraged if their work focuses on Egypt, Lebanon, and/or pre-1948 Palestine.

Eligibility highlights: a completed Master’s degree in a relevant field before 1 September 2026; working knowledge of Arabic, Turkish, or Hebrew; fluent English; and passive knowledge of French or another major European language is an advantage. Applicants should be willing to relocate to Prague for the duration of the project. Candidates already enrolled in a PhD elsewhere are also eligible.

Funding: 36-month PhD positions with a gross salary of 2,250 EUR/month (about 55,000 CZK), plus approximately one year of field research funding and onboarding support. The position is offered under the prestigious ERC label and includes opportunities to build skills in interviews, surveys, data management, map creation, and archival research.

Application window: deadline 30 April 2026. Applicants should prepare a cover letter, CV, one recommendation letter, a research proposal in English (max. 5 pages) linked to the dissertation topic, a writing sample, language proof, and a copy of the Master’s diploma. The post also notes a second application to the Faculty of Arts of Charles University for PhD enrollment, indicating affiliation with the CLOSER project.