The deconstruction of borders and unfamiliarity in the European Union: An analysis of historical representations of otherness and contemporary practices in border regions

The Department of Border Region Studies, at Campus Sønderborg, invites applications for a PhD Fellowship to be filled by November 1, 2010 and for a period of three years.

The Department of Border Region Studies (IFG) is rooted in the unique history of the Southern Danish border region. At the same time, the department has a close relationship with the business community and the cultural institutions of the region. The comparative aspect including other (border) regions in Europe is particularly strong within the regional studies and within the border region studies. Due to a strong focus on comparative aspects the department has developed a broad international research network within Europe. In addition, the department has a special obligation to carrying out research relating to the German minority in Southern Jutland.

The fellowship is part of the research project: The deconstruction of borders and unfamiliarity in the European Union: An analysis of historical representations of otherness and contemporary practices in border regions.

Five European universities cooperate in this project which is funded by the European Science Foundation.

Under the umbrella of the overall programme, the aim of the fellowship is to analyse the interplay of labour market mobility and processes of familiarity and unfamiliarity as explanatory factors of levels in regional cohesion. A Long Durée case study is to be conducted on labour mobility in the Danish-German border region for the period spanning from the first half of the 19th century to the present day. As Danish-German border region we define roughly the territory of the former Duchy of Schleswig. The Duchy of Schleswig is challenging from a research perspective as its status has changed several times during the stipulated period. The composition of national majorities and minorities interchanges as well. Thereby the case illustrates the changing role of region, identity and state in processes of re- and de-bordering. The Long Durée perspective is used to illustrate the political, social and cultural expressions of cohesion at a small geographical scale and the importance of different, competing concepts of regions and regionalisms over time.

Candidates should hold a university degree in history or related disciplines as ethnology, anthropology or cultural studies. The master thesis should be graded at least with B according to the ECTS scale. Advanced knowledge of English is required in addition to mastering Danish and German at least at reading level. Experience with archival studies will be considered an advantage. The application must include a project proposal description of max 8 pages. The project description must include a clear research problem, which falls within the theme of the project and focuses on the Danish-German border region. It should also include a discussion of relevant theory and scholarly literature on border regions, as well as methods and data planned to be used.

PhD students are expected to active participation in department activities.

For further information on the PhD scholarship as well as the project requirements, please contact Associate Professor Martin Klatt, tel. +45 6550 1767 or mk@sam.sdu.dk.

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Department of Border Region Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences

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