PhD in Political Theory

The 3.5 year Sussex PhD Studentship in the Ideas of Anti-Autocratic Movements in Africa (2026) is inviting applications for September 2026./nNEWREPUBLIC is a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant which asks: what are the ideas that animate anti-autocratic movements in Africa, and beyond?n/nThe studentship will be undertaken by a team led by the Principal Investigator, Dr. Dan Paget. One foundational claim is that a series of anti-autocratic movements in Africa articulate people power philosophies. The project aims to (1) extend, (2) enrich and (3) complicate these foundational claims by investigating other movements in Africa, complementary ideas and practices, and contradictory or countervailing ideas and practices./n/nAs a PhD student in the NEWREPUBLIC team, you will undertake an independent research project of your own design focused on how anti-autocratic movements critique autocracy, envisage democracy, instantiate ideas in performance and practice, relate to other texts and movements, and study meanings in texts or practices through qualitative methodologies including elite and non-elite interviews, ethnographic and netnographic research, and analysis of texts and images./n/nYou will also contribute to: a rule-bound content analysis of movements’ speeches; the organisation and delivery of project workshops with scholars and activists; the organisation and delivery of project policy seminars with anti-autocratic activists and stakeholders; and the wider mission of the project./n/nLocation: Falmer, Hybrid. Closing date for applications: Friday 6th March 2026. Interviews will be held for shortlisted candidates in late April 2026.