Geopolitics aims to critically examine how the dynamics of geopolitics, human security and global environmental change interrelate in an epoch referred to as the ‘Anthropocene’.

Order Description
A letter of intent specifying why you are applying for this position (1 page);
‘Sustainable Development in a Changing Geo-Political Era:
Research and activities on security, conflict and peace,
A research proposal (maximum 3 pages) describing:
Your project idea, including tentative research questions, methods and theoretical entry points;
Project description
The research programme MISTRA Geopolitics aims to critically examine how the dynamics of geopolitics, human security and global environmental change interrelate in an epoch referred to as the ‘Anthropocene’. The programme deals with how our society needs to be reformed in order to address increasing resource scarcity while securing positive development and political stability in the 21st century. The programme consists of six core Swedish partners: Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and the universities of Linköping, Lund, Stockholm and Uppsala. In total, eight PhD candidates will be enrolled in MISTRA Geopolitics. These candidates are expected to participate in the MISTRA Geopolitics graduate school, which will provide courses and seminars.

The PhD candidate employed at SIPRI, in collaboration with Tema Environmental Change at Linköping University, will conduct his/her work within the work package ‘Geopolitics and Security in the Anthropocene’. This work package investigates how the political drivers, risks and security implications of global environmental change are construed in academic and policy discourse, and what the implications are for our understanding of security and geopolitics. It is envisioned that the candidate will analyse how state, interstate and non-state actors and institutions understand and represent contemporary environmental and sustainability challenges, and what the implications are for these actors’ interests, objectives and long-term political strategies. A core interest is how these actors interpret the geopolitical dynamics of the Anthropocene and to what extent this ‘new era’ is shaping their policy thinking, discourses and practices. The actors and institutions studied will be selected to cover multiple geographies, policy contexts and thematic areas. Methodologically, the candidate is expected work with different forms of document analysis, interviews and observation studies. Three longer field trips (2–3 months each) are expected to take place, to conduct an ethnographic form of analysis of actors and institutions.