Cold War Socialism, Non-Alignment and Anti-Colonialism in the Yugoslav Press, 1961-1979: AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) PhD Studentship University of Exeter in United Kingdom

The University of Exeter, in partnership with the British Library, invites applications for a fully funded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) PhD Studentship, commencing 1 October 2026. This unique opportunity focuses on the project 'Cold War Socialism, Non-Alignment and Anti-Colonialism in the Yugoslav Press, 1961-1979', which aims to investigate Yugoslavia's pivotal role during the Cold War, particularly its engagement with the Non-Aligned Movement and anti-colonial initiatives.

The research will be supervised by Dr Ljubica Spaskovska and Professor James Mark at the University of Exeter, alongside Milan Grba and Savka Andic at the British Library. The successful candidate will split their time between both institutions, joining a vibrant cohort of AHRC CDP funded PhD students across the UK. The project leverages the recently digitised Joint Translation Service (JTS) bulletins, an exclusive archive housed at the British Library, to apply advanced digital and interdisciplinary methods. The aim is to uncover new perspectives on Cold War socialism and anti-colonialism from a Yugoslav viewpoint, exploring how Yugoslavia, as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, forged a 'third way' in global politics.

Key research questions include: How did socialist Yugoslavia position itself as the principal European member of the Non-Aligned Movement? How did the press portray the nation's activities as a supporter of global anti-colonialism? How did this discourse relate to Yugoslavia’s identity as a socialist, multi-ethnic, multi-confessional, modernized, and industrialized state with a history of anti-imperial liberation struggles? How did Yugoslav cultural production diplomacy foster transnational solidarity and impact internal identity?

The student will contribute to creating a fully digitally searchable Joint Translation Service resource, derive new datasets, and help establish a global network of Non-Aligned Movement-related archives, with the goal of developing a digital repository. Applicants are encouraged to bring their own perspectives and may integrate additional archives and primary materials into their research.

The successful candidate will be registered with the Department of Archaeology and History at the University of Exeter, which boasts a global reputation for excellence and a diverse academic faculty. The Doctoral College provides comprehensive support, training, and academic progress monitoring. At the British Library, the student will benefit from staff-level access to collections, resources, and in-house training, as well as a dedicated programme of CDP Consortium events with other museums, galleries, and heritage organisations.

This collaborative PhD studentship offers a blend of academic training and practice-based experience, providing transferable research skills such as working with primary sources, analysing large historic collections, creating datasets, writing blog posts, producing collections guides, and publishing research outputs. The funding package covers Home (UK) or International tuition fees, an annual maintenance allowance at the Research Council rate (£21,805 per year for 2026/27), a partial London allowance (£1,000 per year), and an additional CDP maintenance payment (£600 per year).

Applicants should have a strong academic background in history, political science, media studies, or related fields, with a first or upper second class undergraduate degree and a relevant master's degree preferred. Experience with digital humanities, archival research, or interdisciplinary methods is desirable. The University of Exeter and the British Library encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including Global Majority students and those underrepresented in doctoral cohorts. English language proficiency is required for non-native speakers.

To apply, visit the University of Exeter funding portal and submit your application by 5 May 2026. For further information, consult the project page or contact the supervisors.