PhD Position in Political Science: Militarization and Democratic Erosion in Latin America University of Amsterdam in Netherlands

PhD Position in Political Science: Militarization and Democratic Erosion in Latin America

The University of Amsterdam is recruiting a PhD candidate for the Horizon Europe MSCA-funded Democratic Institutions and Violence Network in Europe (DIViNE). The project sits in the Department of Political Science and is embedded in the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), within the Political Institutions and Identities programme group. The doctoral researcher will be supervised by Dr. Abbey Steele (University of Amsterdam) and Dr. Juan Masullo (University of Milan), and will join a network of 10 PhD candidates across five universities in Europe.

The project, Militarization, Public Support, and Democratic Erosion in Latin America, examines how public support for militarized security, legacies of civil-military relations, exposure to violence, and distrust in civilian institutions shape support for the domestic use of armed forces. It also studies how these attitudes interact with institutional militarization and executive aggrandizement, and how coercive governance may contribute to democratic erosion. The research will combine survey experiments, cross-national quantitative analysis using datasets such as LAPOP, V-Dem, and Latinobarómetro, and qualitative fieldwork in selected Latin American contexts.

The successful candidate will divide training between Amsterdam and Milan, gaining experience in mixed-methods research, Latin American politics, conflict analysis, and survey experimentation. A three-month non-academic secondment at Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli in Milan will also provide experience in policy outreach, public communication, and engagement with human rights and security-sector organizations.

This is a full-time PhD position for up to 42 months under MSCA Doctoral Network employment conditions, starting in February 2027. The role includes participation in DIViNE training modules, colloquia, workshops, and research meetings, as well as engagement in AISSR and MiCoRes research environments. Depending on availability and the doctoral schedule, the candidate may teach up to 10% of the time at bachelor level.

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in political science or a closely related field by the start date. Strong quantitative and qualitative research-methods skills are essential, along with excellent English and Spanish and/or Portuguese language ability. The call especially welcomes candidates with knowledge of Latin American politics, survey experiments, fieldwork experience, or expertise in political violence, public security, organized crime, and democratic backsliding.

Applicants must also satisfy the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment. The application deadline is 6 November 2026 at 23:59 (Amsterdam time). Shortlisted candidates are expected to interview online during the week of 23 November 2026.