Doctoral Scholarship

Deadline: 1st Feb 2013
Heidelberg, Germany


Heidelberg University invites applications for 1 PhD Scholarships within the research group “Transcultural Justice: Legal Flows and the Emergence of International Justice within the East Asian War Crimes Trials, 1946-1954” The research group is situated within the Cluster “Asia and Europe in a Global Context,” funded by the German Federal Excellence

Initiative, and aims to develop new ways of reconstructing conceptual migrations and entanglements in transcultural perspective. The Cluster’s working language is English.

War Crimes Trials in East Asia contributed to the formation of transcultural norms of legality and legitimacy, as well as transnationally accepted notions of “justice.” The group examines the interaction between War Crimes trials policy in Europe and Asia after 1945, and focuses on institutions and legal staff as agents of concepts and norms which later became codified as UN standard. This project relies in part on the minutes of UN commissions meetings regarding legal issues, papers of the Legal Committees as well as biographical material. Applicants interested in the full project description may look at the homepage: http://www.asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de/fileadmin/Documents/Job_Announcements/JRG_Transcultural_Justice_project_description.pdf .
1 PhD project focuses on the United Nations War Crimes Sub-Commission at Chongking (1944-1947), and interactions, debates and concepts discussed between this body and the UN War Crimes Commission at London. Special emphasize is laid on the role of the chair of commission, Justice Wang Chong Hui (王寵惠), the Chinese government’s War Crimes Trials policy and the city as a meeting place for international lawyers in charge of preparing the war crimes trials in East Asia.
The successful applicants’ primary task will be to complete a PhD degree, but active participation in relevant graduate courses offered at the Cluster of Excellence or other institutes at Heidelberg University is recommended. The stipends are rated at €1200/month (except for a small enrollment fee, no tuition fees apply) and limited to a duration of three years. Some travel and publication funds are available. Applications for further subsidies will be encouraged.
Candidates must hold an M.A. or equivalent in a relevant discipline of the humanities or social sciences such as History, Sinology, Political Science, Philosophy, Law/ History of Law with an above-average grade (at least 1.7, B+, 2+, "magna cum laude", or equivalent). Proficiency in English is essential.
To apply, send curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, outline of a dissertation project (2-3 pages) related to one of the above mentioned subprojects, names and contact details of two referees, via email to Dr. Kerstin von Lingen at lingen@asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de
Review of applications will begin on 1 February 2013 and continue until the positions are filled.

Heidelberg University is an equal opportunity/affirmative-action employer. In case of equality of qualification and suitability of applicants, the applications made by female researchers will be given preferential consideration. We also encourage and welcome applications from disabled persons.

 

Download this call for applications (PDF)

 

 

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