[Discussion] GRANTS- PhD and Postdoc Positions at the MPI for Social Anthropology]

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Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 05:06:43 +0200
To: CentralAsia-L@fas.harvard.edu
From: Berit Westwood <westwood@eth.mpg.de>
Subject: GRANTS- PhD and Postdoc Positions at the MPI for Social Anthropo=
logy
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A distribution of: CentralAsia-L - Announcement List for Central Asian St=
udies


GRANTS- PhD and Postdoctoral Positions at the MPI for Social Anthropology

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Directors: Prof. Dr. G=FCnther Schlee - Prof. Dr. Christopher Hann
PO Box 11 03 51, 06017 D - Halle/Saale
Advokatenweg 36, 06114 Halle/Saale
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)3 45-29 27-200
Fax:  +49 (0)3 45-29 27-202
http://www.eth.mpg.de


Our Institute has the opportunity to offer=20
PhD and Postdoctoral Grants
starting January 2003.=20

Comparative research into social transformations forms the basis of our=20
Institute's research program.=20

The grants are to be award in the context of the following two programs:=20

1. 'Integration and conflict' headed by Prof. Dr. G=FCnther Schlee

Integration and conflict are central points of reference for the analysis=
 of=20
the interaction of ethnic groups=20
and states. The construction, meaning and communication of identity offer=
 an=20
important field of research within this frame of reference. The analysis =
of=20
descriptions of the self and the other in processes of peaceful and viole=
nt=20
interaction and, in particular, the conditions of the development of=20
identities in confrontations with other groups, are at the centre of this=
=20
research project. The description and analysis of conflict mechanisms are=
=20
also play an important role. The regional foci of this research project a=
re=20
West Africa, northern East Africa and Central Asia.=20

Further information can be found under Integration and Conflict on our=20
homepage: http://www.eth.mpg.de


2. 'Religion and Civil Society' headed by Prof. Dr. Christopher Hann

This research program concentrates on the examination of religion in=20
postsocialist societies. The preferred regional focus is Central Asia,=20
although projects in other Asian and East European states are possible. T=
he=20
examination of religious communities and their position in postsocialist=20
societies are the core of this project, together with the examination of =
new=20
sources of values and meanings. Within this framework, special attention =
is=20
paid to the 'fit' between the beliefs and practices of particular religio=
us=20
movements and those of liberal 'civil society'. The individual projects a=
re=20
to be based on contemporary fieldwork. Comparative approaches are=20
particularly desirable.=20

Further background concerning these projects can be found under=20
Postsocialist Eurasia / Religion and Civil Society on our homepage:=20
http://www.eth.mpg.de

The Postdoctoral Grants are for two years (a one-year extension is possib=
le=20
for foreigners). Post-doctoral Grants can only be awarded to scientists, =
who=20
have acquired their doctorate within the last ten years. The grants are n=
ot=20
taxed and freed of social security stipulations.

PhD Grants are generally awarded for 2 years with the possibility of two=20
six-month extensions. We expect our PhD grantees to complete a yearlong=20
period of fieldwork as part of their studies.=20

The Max Planck Society is committed to raising the proportion of women in=
=20
underrepresented fields; we thus explicitly encourage applications by wom=
en.=20

Handicapped individuals will be given priority, assuming equal qualificat=
ions.=20

Applications should include the standard documentations and a project=20
resume. Final selection will be made following interviews in late=20
October-November. Please send applications and the names of two referees=20
(whom we may contact for confidential references) to the following addres=
s=20
before September 30th 2002:=20

Max-Planck-Institute for Social Anthropology
Personnel Administration
P.O. Box 11 03 51
D-06017 Halle/Saale


Religion and Civil Society

What follows here is a brief and preliminary outline of some of the think=
ing=20
behind the new Focus Theme to be introduced in the Postsocialist Eurasia=20
group from January 2003. Both PhD and post-doctoral positions are being=20
advertised in summer 2002. Prospective applicants are encouraged to read=20
these notes, including the guidelines at the end, and to contact Chris Ha=
nn=20
(hann@eth.mpg.de) if they have further questions.

The concept of religion and its place in modern society has been a promin=
ent=20
theme in the social sciences from their inception, e.g. in Max Weber's=20
analysis of the links between Protestantism and Capitalism, or in Karl=20
Marx's dismissal of religion as the 'opiate of the people'. In the case o=
f=20
Emile Durkheim, religion was central to his sociological theorizing, and =
the=20
tradition that insists on view-ing religion as a reflection of the social=
,=20
as 'society worshipping itself', has had enormous influence on=20
anthropological explorations of the religious field in all types of socie=
ty.=20
In Durkheim's lifetime, the Catholic Church was still a rather reactionar=
y=20
public force in France, and the sociologist hoped that his own science mi=
ght=20
provide the basis of a new morality or conscience collective. A century=20
later, an Enlightenment model that would confine religion to the 'private=
=20
sphere' is still strictly maintained by the French state. However, this=20
model is problematic for some minority religious communities, and other=20
western European states regulate church-state relations quite differently.

The proposed new Focus Theme is concerned with those parts of Europe and=20
Asia that experienced socialist rule. Given their long-term historical=20
differences, together with contrasting experiences of the socialist perio=
d=20
itself and its aftermath, it is unsurprising that there is considerable=20
diversity in this field today. Possible topics for investigation include =
the=20
current position of 'dominant churches', such as the Roman Catholic Churc=
h=20
in Poland. This example retained its strength in Polish society throughou=
t=20
the Socialist period. The position of the Orthodox Church in a country su=
ch=20
as Georgia is rather different, given the stronger history of repression =
in=20
the Soviet Union. Nonetheless this church (like its sister church in Gree=
ce)=20
also claims a special relation to the nation-state, and tends to be=20
intolerant of 'new', rival religious currents. The Central Asian republic=
s,=20
where Islam dominates, also offer many possibilities to explore how far=20
different religious currents are compatible with 'liberal' notions of civ=
il=20
society.

Some projects are likely to focus on smaller communities of faith and the=
ir=20
position in the postsocialist 'religious marketplace'. These might be=20
subdivided into 'revivals' of older traditions, perhaps lacking any forma=
l=20
organization (e.g. shamanism in many parts of Siberia), established=20
'minority religions' (e.g. the Jewish tradition), and new religions (e.g.=
=20
American-sponsored Protestant and 'sectarian' groupings).

Alternatively, some work in the new Focus Theme might pursue a more gener=
al=20
concern with the establishment of new sources of values and 'meaning', no=
w=20
that the secular utopia promised by socialism has been exposed as a failu=
re.=20
Is it because the options available for a new secular morality are so=20
limited that many people prefer to hold on to the ideals of socialism? In=
=20
what sense, if any, do the successor institutions (political parties, but=
=20
also other organs now establishing a new place in civil society) continue=
 to=20
substitute for religious faith as conventionally defined?

All project proposals should be based on new fieldwork, part of which sho=
uld=20
be concerned with the specialists or activists of the community, while pa=
rt=20
should follow up their impact in different social circles and the network=
s=20
of civil society. While the political significance of religion is one=20
obvious source of interest (e.g. links to the (re)assertion of national=20
identity), other possibilities include investigations of the pertinence o=
f=20
religion for entrepreneurial success, status, educational strategies etc.=
=20

There is no rigid insistence on one specific theoretical perspective or=20
methodological orientation. However, in addition to a basic Durkheimian=20
concern with the social significance of religion and ritual, the situatio=
n=20
of the post-socialist countries does lend itself particularly well to=20
theories concerned to address the dynamics of religious change - with the=
=20
transmission of faith in the 'private sphere' in times of public repressi=
on,=20
and with the re-establishment of institutional structures when this=20
repression is over. This implies that some projects might, at least in pa=
rt,=20
be concerned with recovering the 'secret histories' of religions under=20
socialism.

Applications for support to work in any part of the post-socialist world =
are=20
welcome. Local projects are possible: our Institute is located in East=20
Germany, where the number of atheists remains significantly higher than i=
n=20
the West. Particular encouragement is given to applicants proposing work =
in=20
Central Asia, where it is hoped to set up a number of linked, comparative=
=20
projects. Individual projects may themselves involve comparison, but need=
=20
not do so necessarily. It is expected that all applicants should have som=
e=20
familiarity already with the languages that they need for their proposed=20
fieldwork, and also with the theories and methods of social anthropology =
(as=20
a new research Institute we are not in a position to provide basic=20
training). Normally this means that a prospective PhD student should have=
 a=20
Masters level qualification in anthropology, but there are cases in which=
 it=20
is possible to relax this criterion.

All applications should include a CV, a brief research proposal (maximum =
of=20
two pages), and the names of two referees, to whom we may write for a=20
confidential reference.



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