Postdoctoral Research Associate - 'Exploiting the Governance Gap: Activism in Northern Ireland Since 2017' (Grade 7)

We wish to appoint a highly motivated postdoctoral research associate to join the Leverhulme Trust-funded project entitled ‘Exploiting the Governance Gap: Activism in Northern Ireland since 2017’.

The project is an ambitious and interdisciplinary study about the interplay between activism, minority rights, consociational power-sharing, and multi-level governance in Northern Ireland:

‘Collapses of power-sharing have left Northern Ireland without a devolved government for five of the past seven years. Against this backdrop of political stagnation, there have been periods of significant grassroots mobilisation among minority rights activists who, in pursuit of legislative reform, organised protests and demonstrations, utilised social media, and lobbied politicians at the local, national, and international level. Some campaigns experienced success that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, not least the legal recognition of Irish as an official language (in 2022) and the legalisation of same-sex marriage (in 2019). This project investigates the activities and strategies of minority rights activists as they pursued reform in the context of consociational power-sharing, political instability, and the UK system of multi-level governance. The project has a particular focus on Irish language and LGBTQ activism and the associated campaigns for an Irish Language Act and the legalisation of same-sex marriage respectively’.

The lead investigator is Dr Sean Haughey, with whom the Postdoctoral Research Associate will work alongside to deliver the project’s objectives.

Candidates with an interest in activism, social movements, divided societies, consociational power-sharing, the politics of minority languages, the politics of sexual minorities, or multi-level governance are encouraged to apply. Candidates should have experience of conducting qualitative social science research and should have a background in political science, sociology or a cognate social science discipline.

A PhD in Political Science, Sociology, or a related social science discipline is required for this role.

If you are still awaiting your PhD to be awarded you will be appointed at Grade 6, spine point 30.  Upon written confirmation that you have been awarded your PhD, your salary will be increased to Grade 7, spine point 31.

This is a fixed-term post from 23 September 2024 to 22 May 2026.

The University of Liverpool is committed to enhancing workforce diversity. We actively seek to attract, develop, and retain colleagues with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all genders/gender identities, Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, individuals living with a disability, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Job Ref: 082686                                                                                                Closing Date:  8 August 2024

For full details and to apply online, please visit: https://recruit.liverpool.ac.uk

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