Call for PhD proposals in the field of Migration, Diversity and Development
The Institute for European Studies (IES) invites applications for the position of a PhD researcher for a maximum duration of four years (beginning in November 2007). The IES is a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Its research focuses on the role of the EU as a global actor and on the interaction between the internal and external dimensions of EU policies and between EU policies and other international institutions and organisations.
More information on the institute and its research strategy can be found at http://www.ies. be/about/
The IES seeks proposals for PhD projects in a legal discipline or political science (or a related social science) that help us advance our knowledge about the driving forces and most promising policy responses to migration and diversity both in Europe and in the context of development. Comparative studies between Europe and the traditionally immigrant societies of the New World might be helpful in determining promising policy paths. Proposals addressing legal issues are particularly encouraged.
Rationale: As the Global Commission on International Migration noted in its 2005 report, �human mobility is not only becoming more complex in scope and scale, but is also becoming more complex in its nature�. Many of these complexities and the crosscutting factors involved are not yet well understood. Migration brings with it a wealth of issues concerned with human interaction especially in our large cities. These include differences of culture, legal tradition, religion and customs and the acceptance of such diversity amongst the local population. They also encompass practical matters such as how to deal with language in schools and how to integrate migrant children into the educational system, health issues, sensitivity in policing migrant neighbourhoods and other social and legal questions.
Proposals should have a clear conceptual foundation and could focus on one or several of the following issues that are of particular relevance in a European context:
* Integration of migrants into host societies. Although there is a considerable literature on strategies for integration of migrants, further study needs to be done on the effectiveness of government intervention as opposed to laissez-faire, policies for dealing with concentrations of migrants in European cities, the role of the private sector in job creation and social issues relating to isolation from family and culture.
* Policy formation regarding economic migration for employment and self-employment. Key aspects of this issue encompass the effects of declining demography and the increasing dependency ratio in Europe, the effects of economic migrants on employment levels, wage levels and other market factors such as the need for workers to fill jobs in the current favourable European economic climate and the desirability of immigration for wealth formation.
* The effectiveness of different types of visa regimes such as temporary work permits, high skilled and points based schemes, job matching, �circular� migration schemes in particular the effect of such schemes on the sending countries� development such as �brain gain� and remittances.
* Control of illegal migration. There is a lack of exploration of the success or failure of strategies currently being employed (notably regularisation or amnesties for illegal migrants, carriers� liability or criminal penalties for employing illegal workers which are largely ignored) as well as the factors determining this success or failure.
* Responses to mass migration. There has been little examination of the effects of armed conflict on migration and of the best methods of dealing with mass influx of migrants created by human action or natural disasters. A current example is the effect of conflict (such as in Iraq or Afghanistan) which is politically and militarily supported by potential receiving European states on the migration issues of nationals of the countries in conflict.
* Relationship between human rights and migration law. There is a need to further explore the contradictions between human rights law and the perceived right of nation states and the EU to control access to their territory. This can, amongst other questions, include issues relating to the Geneva Convention 1951 on the right to asylum, the extension of states� control of immigration beyond their borders (for example by stationing liaison officers at foreign airports or processing asylum applications outside their territory) or data protection matters in relation to electronic control systems. There are potential conflicts between rights under the Geneva Convention and rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which might be explored in the light of decisions in the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice.
* The effects of European trade and aid policies on migration. One area of inquiry might be how the EU can modify its policies in the various trade negotiation fora a such as the WTO or the Cotonou Agreement in order to mitigate possible effects of these policies on migratory patterns. The same reasoning applies to aid policy in particular how migration issues can be best incorporated into development projects in the light of the various EU communications on this issue.
An important criterion for the selection of the successful candidate will be that a qualified supervision and promotion of the PhD can be ensured at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Applicants are therefore encouraged to identify potential promoters at the VUB and to indicate these in their application, if possible.
Remuneration: PhD bursary or equivalent (appr. 1500 Euros net per month)
Duration: Four years (subject to annual reviews) as of 1 November 2007
Applications including (1) a detailed Curriculum Vitae, (2) a clear PhD proposal (max. 10 pages), (3) a list of publications, (4) a letter of motivation and (5) two letters of recommendation should be sent to the Academic Director of the IES (address below), email: ies@vub.ac.be by 30 September 2007.
Institute for European Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussel (Belgium)
Fax: +32 2 629 1809
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