果冻传媒

Dr Nicola Pratt has been awarded a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship for a project entitled ‘Middle East Women: The Personal and the Geopolitical’. This is a highly prestigious and competitive fellowship, so our congratulations go to Nicola.

The “Arab spring” appears to present a paradox for women: they have participated in large numbers in the uprisings across the Middle East but their rights are threatened under newly-elected governments. Middle East women have a long history of involvement in social movements and civil society. Yet, women’s rights have not progressed in a linear fashion. Taking a new direction in the study of women and gender in the Middle East, this project assesses the significance of geopolitics in shaping women’s rights and participation in complex and often contradictory ways. Through women’s own narratives, Nicola Pratt will trace the history of women’s responses to major geopolitical events in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and critically assess their impact on women’s rights and participation. Nicola will use the fellowship to research and write a book, tentatively entitled, ‘Middle East Women: The Personal and the Geopolitical’, and to contribute to public debates in the UK and internationally about women and gender in the Middle East.

PAIS is pleased to announce two new funding opportunities for PhD study in 2013:

ESRC Project Grant Award: Prof Matthew Watson has secured funding for a PhD studentship through his ESRC-funded project “Exploring the Concept of ‘the Market’: Combining History of Ideas and Historiographical Approaches;” project specification, residency, and citizenship restrictions apply so please check the website for full details. Deadline: 31 May 2013

PAIS Studentship in Political Spaces: Two PAIS funded studentships covering fees + maintenance; all nationalities are eligible but projects must fall within the broad area of Political Spaces, so please check the website for full details.Deadline: 31 May 2013

Additionally, we would like to remind you that the ESRC-funded Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre, in partnership with the development NGO BasicNeeds, is offering a collaborative PhD studentship this year. Residency and citizenship restrictions apply, and proposals must fit the project brief as detailed online. Deadline: 30 April 2013

Finally, the Graduate School has a funding portal where you can find additional opportunities, links to the International Office’s scholarship database, and advice for alternative ways of funding your studies if you are unable to secure a full scholarship.

If you have any questions about making your PhD or funding application, please do not hesitate to ask Mel Venables or your supervisor.

, currently a PhD Candidate in PAIS, has been awarded an for 2012-13.

, currently a Leverhulme Trust Visiting Fellow in PAIS and soon to join PAIS as an Assistant Professor, has won the Annual Prize of the Journal of European Public Policy for the most downloaded article not in a special issue. Tina co-authored the article with Solveig Richter entitled ‘National identity matters: the limited impact of EU political conditionality on the Western Balkans’ (Volume 17, issue 2, 2010, pages 263-281).

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recently contributed a blog post to the University of Nottingham's China Policy Institute entitled 'Xi Jinping: The Challenge Awaits'. Below is an excerpt from the blog:

Xi Jinping’s tenure as China’s top leader began with might call a stage of symbols and signposts – an attempt to give indications of the main thrusts of policy under his leadership. Making his first trip as leader to the south in an echo of Deng’s南巡 in 1992 (which has become the symbol of the return to reform and liberalisation and the high profile given to combating corruption are both cases in point. The announcement of a “plan” to tackle income distribution began to make the transition from signposts to actual policy; though it still leans more towards being an annunciation of aspiration and grand strategy rather than a detailed outline of specific changes to come.