Matthew D. Stephen

Goethe University’s Learning Empire research unit is advertising a PhD position in International Relations / International Political Economy with a China focus within the project “Ideology of Empire: China’s Ideational Binding Practices in Global Governance.” The project, led by Matthew D. Stephen , examines how Chinese efforts to reshape the ideational environment of global governance have evolved, how they are promoted, and how they are received. The research asks whether China’s advancement of ideas about global governance and international politics in the Xi era amounts to a novel imperial ideology. This doctoral opening is part of a larger cohort of 10+ PhD researchers and postdocs and includes a structured methods and professional development programme, joint supervision across projects, mentoring, workshops, writing retreats, and a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment. Research keywords: International Relations, International Political Economy, China studies, global governance, ideational power, imperial ideology, political science. Eligibility highlights: candidates should have a strong interest in China-focused research and the broader themes of global governance and international politics. The post is especially relevant for applicants with backgrounds in political science, IR, or related social science fields. Deadline: 30 June 2026. How to apply: follow the job advertisement linked in the post and use the official application instructions on the Learning Empire careers page.