Two PhD Positions NCCR Project “Democracy Barometer”, Switzerland

Scholarship Details:

The NCCR Democracy is an interdisciplinary research program on the challenges to democracy in the 21st century funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the University of Zurich. In the framework of the NCCR project "Democracy Barometer" we are seeking two Ph.D. students. The appointment will begin between January and April 2011.

The Democracy Barometer:
The Democracy Barometer is a new instrument that aims at measuring and understanding the quality of democracy. Looking at the fundamental principles and functions of democracy, we study the causes and consequences of democratic qualities, paths of successful democratisation, and problems of democracy / democratisation in a comparative perspective.

Project Details:

The project "Democracy Barometer" has developed an instrument to assess the quality of democracy in 75 established democracies and to measure the fine differences that exist between them. It allows for benchmarking between established democracies and, as democracy is seen as an ongoing process, for a critical observation of their democratic
development over time, cf. http://www.nccr-democracy.uzh.ch/research/module5/barometer

Profile Details:

• We seek candidates with an MA degree in a relevant subject (such as political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, public policy, mathematics or statistics in combination with a minor in social sciences).
• You are motivated to write a PhD thesis, studying the quality of democracy and/or democratisation processes. The Democracy Barometer dataset is at your disposal for your own research.
• You contribute to the extension of the Democracy Barometer dataset, and will have further tasks related to our project (such as dissemination, writing short reports, etc.).
• You have excellent skills in methods of analysis, especially quantitative methods.
• You are fluent in English, and if possible, you have working knowledge in further languages.
• As a PhD student, you participate in the doctoral program of the NCCR Democracy (cf. http://www.nccr democracy.uzh.ch/education).

Terms of employment:

Work is located at the Zentrum für Demokratie Aarau (ZDA), which is part of the University of Zurich. Aarau is a 25-minute train ride from the Zurich main station. The salary is determined according to the pay scale of the Swiss National Science Foundation (approximately 40.000-
47.000 CHF/year, gross). Term of employment is three years, and it cannot be extended over four years.

Application Deadline:
Application Deadline is 12 December 2010

Further Details:
For further information about this scholarship visit below link.

http://sagw.ch/svpw/Jobs/Two-Ph-D–positions-NCCR-project–Democracy-Barometer-/mainColumnParagraphs/0/text_de_files/file/phd-positions_dembarometer.pdf