How does coloniality continue to shape contemporary Europe – and what role do theological imaginaries and institutions play in sustaining or contesting it? This research project is seeking three postdoctoral researchers for an ambitious, interdisciplinary project. The project investigates how colonial power continues to operate in contemporary Europe through political-theological discourses across religious, secular, and academic domains.
Focusing on Belgium, Germany, and Ireland, the project combines qualitative discourse analysis, discourse network analysis, and critical theological reflection to develop a new framework for understanding the relationship between theology, coloniality, and contemporary forms of power. Researchers will join an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented research team and contribute to a shared research agenda.
Wat je doet
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to the development of a Critical Political Theology of Coloniality through a combination of empirical research, conceptual reflection, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- You will take primary responsibility for coordinating empirical research in one of the three national contexts: Belgium, Germany, or Ireland.
- You will build, code, and analyze qualitative empirical corpora across three domains of inquiry: sexualized violence in a religious institution, remembrance practices of state violence, and academic knowledge production in Post-/Secularity Studies.
- You will conduct discourse analysis and discourse network analysis and contribute to the development of a comparative dataset on political-theological practices of coloniality.
- You will actively contribute to the conceptual and theoretical development of the project, engaging critically with questions of theology, coloniality, power, authority, memory, and secularity.
- You will work closely with the Principal Investigator and other postdoctoral researchers to develop shared analytical frameworks, concepts, and methodologies and to contribute to the comparative synthesis.
- You will publish high-quality research outputs in leading international journals and edited volumes.
- You will present research findings at international conferences, workshops, and project events and contribute to building the international research network.
- You will participate in the organization of research seminars, workshops, conferences, and other academic and public engagement activities.
- Opportunities may be available to contribute to teaching and/or student supervision.
What they ask
- PhD in Theology, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Political Theory, Anthropology, Sociology, History, Cultural Studies, or a related discipline, completed by the start of the appointment.
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the three research areas outlined: Systematic, Constructive, and Political Theology; Empirical Research on Religion, Institutions, and Public Discourse; Post-/Secularity Studies, Political Theory, and Cultural Anthropology.
- Strong interest in questions of coloniality, power, authority, memory, religion, and/or secularity.
- Demonstrated capacity for original and independent research.
- Excellent publication record relative to career stage.
Research Skills.
- Experience with qualitative social research methods.
- Experience with discourse analysis, qualitative coding, textual analysis, or related interpretive approaches.
- Experience with empirical research on religion, political discourse, institutions, memory, or public culture.
- Experience with systematic, constructive, historical, political, or critical theological research.
- Experience with postcolonial, decolonial, feminist, critical race, or related critical theoretical approaches.
- Interest in developing expertise in discourse network analysis and other digital or mixed-method approaches used within the project.
- Demonstrated ability or willingness to move between empirical and conceptual/theoretical modes of inquiry.
Professional Competencies.
- Ability to work independently and take initiative in developing research.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary and international research team.
- Demonstrated willingness to engage constructively with perspectives from other disciplines.
- Excellent organizational and project-management skills.
- Strong communication skills, including academic writing and presentation.
- Commitment to contributing to a supportive, collaborative, and intellectually ambitious research environment.
Languages.
- Excellent command of English (written and spoken).
- Competence in at least one language relevant to the project's comparative case studies is highly desirable (German, Dutch, French, or Irish).
Praktisch
- Initial appointment for one year, with expected renewal for up to a maximum of five years.
- Appointments normally between 80% and 100% FTE, with full-time appointments anticipated in most cases.
- Competitive compensation in accordance with applicable pay scales.
- Research budget for participation in national and international conferences, workshops, and training programs.
- Stimulating research environment with intellectual exchange, academic freedom, and collegiality.
- Opportunities to develop your own research profile and publications.
- Opportunities to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and international partners.
How to apply
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