PhD Researcher Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (1.0 FTE)

About this position

PhD Researcher in “A Sociology of Post-Imperial Islamic Legal Culture: Insights from Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia” (

Minaret Project

), 1.0 FTE.

The Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (VVI) invites applications for

one PhD Researcher

(1.0 FTE, 4 years) from September/October 2027 – September/October 2031 to join the Minaret Project, a HORIZON Unit Grant-funded interdisciplinary and transnational research initiative, which examines the interconnection between law, religion and governance in post-imperial Muslim-majority societies to promote democracy and good governance.

The project brings together 11 universities with 15 PhD researchers across 3 work packages and 15 subprojects, with the applicant contributing to the subproject

Neo-Imperialism and Constitutional Reform: The Global Dimension

. This subproject examines to what extent international organizations and global governance actors act as neo-imperial forces shaping constitutional reform in North Africa and the Middle East.

It will explore how donor-driven “rule of law” and “good governance” programs are developed, interpreted, and implemented in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Particular attention will be paid to how the legal frameworks promoted by international actors relate to the government practices in these countries, and in particular to those embedded in local traditions and religious values.

Drawing on policy-document analysis and elite interviews with a diverse range of actors -including international advisers, domestic policymakers, civil-society representatives, legal practitioners, religious scholars, and community leaders-, the study will investigate how transnational constitutional models are negotiated, adapted, resisted, or hybridized in practice. It will contribute to debates on postcolonial constitutionalism by examining the processes through which legal and governance norms circulate across borders, as well as the forms of influence, dependency, and agency that shape their adoption.

Ultimately, the project seeks to develop a nuanced account of how external interventions affect perceptions of legitimacy, legal pluralism, and sovereignty in transitional Muslim-majority societies.

What you will do

The PhD researcher will join the Leiden-based Minaret team, working closely with two senior-researchers and two external mentors (one academic and one non-academic, associated with the project). The position provides the opportunity to conduct original empirical research on the underlying structures of constitutional reform in said countries, while also contributing to public engagement and the collaborative life of the project. All PhD researchers are required to undertake two secondments abroad with the project’s associated partners, one academic and one non-academic, of between two and six months' duration.

This will not only enhance research capabilities but also equip the PhD researcher for academic and non-academic roles.

Academic Research

Conduct socio-legal and policy analysis with key stakeholders in selected countries.

Write a doctoral dissertation and co-author academic publications based on qualitative research.

Contribute to the project’s comparative framework within the subproject; within the work package (Imperial Genealogies and Constitutional Formation) and between the work packages.

Communications & Engagement

Present research findings at events organized by the research project, such as 3 summer schools and 4 training events.

Willingness and ability to spend extended periods abroad for fieldwork and 2 secondments.

Help organize international workshops, conferences, and events with academic and civil society partners.

Contribute to project website and social media accounts.

Where you will work

The Faculty of Law is based in both Leiden and The Hague and, with over 7,000 students and approximately 600 staff members, is one of the largest law faculties in the Netherlands. The faculty is committed to innovative, multidisciplinary research and a constantly evolving curriculum that addresses key societal challenges. Our faculty is large enough to make an impact on both a national and international scale, yet small enough to offer a personal and engaging learning experience.

In this way, we contribute every day to a safer and more sustainable world. Impact with law! For more information, please visit

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/law

.

The Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (VVI) is part of the Leiden Law School. The VVI seeks to advance knowledge of the formation and functioning of legal systems in their social contexts, the impact of these systems on society and vice versa, their effectiveness in governance, and their contribution to development. The Institute adopts a socio-legal and global approach, doing research on law in the books and law in action in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

VVI staff teaches several socio-legal thematic and regional courses for both Dutch and foreign exchange students. In addition, VVI provides PhD supervision, advisory services and training courses to policy makers and practitioners. For more information, see

www.vvi.leidenuniv.nl

.

What you bring

In our team, we are looking for someone who can work independently while also contributing to a collaborative environment. Since every position is unique, we will devote careful attention to your onboarding. If some aspects of the work are new to you, we will identify what support you need and develop a tailored plan for your professional growth.

We do not expect candidates to already have all the qualifications listed below. Training will be provided in areas such as socio-legal studies, research methods, and the specificities of constitutional reform in the Middle East. That said, this position will be a good fit for you if you recognize yourself in many of the following:

A MSc or LLM in