Stellenticket Freie Universität Berlin

“Politics of Grievance and Democratic Governance” (PLEDGE) is an EU-HORIZON funded
research project studying grievances and their impacts on democracy. The project is carried
out by 15 partner institutions in Europe (Coordinator: University of Helsinki) and involves
various scientific disciplines such as political psychology, gender studies, sociology of
emotion, democracy studies, political communication, media studies, and political
philosophy. PLEDGE examines when grievances develop into anti-democratic politics,
marked by outgroup hatred and contempt, cynical stance towards deliberation,
uncompromising self-righteousness, and uncivil, disruptive collective action versus pro-
democratic politics, marked by in-group solidarity, outgroup tolerance, empathy, cooperative
and deliberative decision making, purposive and peaceful collective action; how to
understand transitions from pro-democratic expressions of grievances to anti-democratic,
and vice versa; how policymakers can effectively address the emotional economy of
grievance politics through emotionally sensitive policymaking and new democratic structures
and practices that foster pro-democratic engagement with people expressing grievances.
The Research Group Sociology of Emotions at Freie Universität Berlin will mainly contribute,
in close collaboration with PLEDGE partner institutions, to work packages that collect,
review, and analyze existing survey data with respect to different political grievances and that
design, implement, and analyze a longitudinal cross-national survey on grievance politics.

Job description:
The successful candidate will work at the Research Group Sociology of Emotions at the
Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin. In particular, the candidate will contribute to
the execution of work packages of the PLEDGE consortium in which Freie Universität Berlin
is involved in either a leading or a cooperating role. These work packages mainly deal with
collecting, reviewing, and analyzing existing survey data with respect to different political
grievances and with designing, implementing, and analyzing a longitudinal cross-national
survey on grievance politics. In doing so, the candidate will closely collaborate with senior
and junior researchers of the PLEDGE consortium and coordinate with them on a regular
basis. Tasks in particular include contributing to the identification and consolidation of
existing survey data pertaining to different aspects of grievance politics and the analysis of
this data with respect to PLEDGE’s guiding research questions. Tasks further include
contributions to the design, implementation, and analysis of a longitudinal cross-national
survey on grievance politics. This involves, for example, the selection, development, and
testing of measurement instruments, questionnaire and survey design, fielding the survey,
data processing and management, and data analysis.

Requirements:
The successful candidate has a degree (MA or equivalent) in sociology, political science or a
related social science discipline.

Desirable:

• Interest in the sociology of emotion, political sociology and/or political psychology
• Knowledge of theories and research on political emotions, political populism, radicalization,
  governance and democracy.
• Excellent knowledge of quantitative social science research methods, in particular survey
  methodology
• Strong skills in a syntax-based data analysis software (e.g., Stata, R).
• Excellent command of the English language
• Ability and interest to work in an international and interdisciplinary team

For further information, please contact Mr. Prof. Dr. Christian von Scheve
(christian.von.scheve@fu-berlin.de / +49 30 838 57695).
Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents, indicating the
reference code, in PDF format (preferably as one document) no later than December 11 th,
2023 to Mr Prof. Dr. Christian von Scheve: oscar.domenico.maestroni@fu-berlin.de or postal
to

Freie Universität Berlin
Fachbereich Politik- und Sozialwissenschaften
Institut für Soziologie
AB Soziologie der Emotionen
Mr. Prof. Dr. Christian von Scheve
Garystr. 55
14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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Freie Universität Berlin is an equal opportunity employer.