Applications now open

One NRF PhD, two Masters and four Honours scholarships available

The SARhI/Newton Research Chair in Political Theory would like to invite applications for these scholarships.

These will be available for any student researching a topic in political theory (broadly construed) in South Africa, who would like to work under the supervision of Professor Lawrence Hamilton in 2020 (and, potentially, beyond). Professor Hamilton can supervise research on a broad range of topics within political theory, including the history of political and economic thought, particularly political theory for the global South. One of the Chair’s main aims is to help rethink political theory from the perspectives of the global South, and especially Africa.

The Chair has recently inaugurated a faculty and student exchange programme between the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cambridge. Thus, there may also be the possibility of spending up to 3 months at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge.

Please send your CV, full academic transcript and short research proposal – 1 page – to Nomhle.Botile@wits.ac.za or Nomhle Botile, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The deadline for these submissions is 31 January 2020 and is open to all, and is open to all, including students who are already enrolled in coursework at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). More information on graduate study at Wits can be found here and here

Academic exchange programme between Wits and Cambridge

Scholars will spend between one and six months on the exchange programme.

In Cambridge, visiting Wits researchers will be affiliated with POLIS and provided with desk space, (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space) a library card and access to Cambridge online resources. All travel and living expenses will be covered by the Chair and, where possible, visitors will be given a college affiliation and access to college accommodation. Visiting Wits researchers will be encouraged to play a full part in the academic life of POLIS, through participation in seminars and interaction with faculty.

In Wits, visiting Cambridge researchers will be affiliated with the Chair and provided with desk space (whenever possible and usually in a shared open space) a library card and access to Wits online resources. All travel and living expenses will be covered by the Chair and accommodation will be provided on campus. Visiting Cambridge researchers will be encouraged to play a full part in the academic life of Wits, through participation in seminars, particularly the Chair seminar series, and interaction with faculty.

Application Process

Interested PhD students should send:
• a covering letter, detailing briefly their PhD research and the academic reasons for their visit
• a detailed CV (2 pages) and a short (2 page) outline of their PhD project
• a letter of recommendation from their supervisor

Interested academics should send:
• a covering letter detailing the academic reasons for their visit and identifying how working under the auspices of the Chair in the host institution would advance their and the Chair’s research aims.
• a detailed CV

Applications should be sent to Lawrence Hamilton (Lawrence.Hamilton@wits.ac.za or lah1001@cam.ac.uk), cc’ing Ricardo De Sao Joao (Ricardo.DeSaoJoao@wits.ac.za) and Cerys Thomas (ct543@cam.ac.uk). There are two relevant deadlines each year: 15 June and 15 October.

Within a month of coming back to their home institutions, exchange visitors are required to provide a short report (2 pages max) about their stay.

To link to the University of Cambridge click here. And to link to the University of Witwatersrand, click here.

One NRF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

These will be available for researchers in the early stages of postdoctoral research (within 5 years of finishing their doctorate), researching a topic in political theory (broadly construed).

• They are tenable for one year, renewable for a second year
• These bursaries are awarded pro-rata at R200 000 per annum (tax free)
• Standard Medical Aid Cover, provided by the University
• There will also be an amount of R10 000 available per annum for conference travel
• All necessary workspace (and help with visa applications, where necessary) will be provided by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
For the full advert and more on the, possibility of spending up to 6 months at the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge, see apta.org.za and https://www.apta.org.za

Please send a CV and short research proposal – 2 pages – to Lawrence.Hamilton@wits.ac.za and Ricardo.Desaojoao@wits.ac.za or The Department of Political Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa. (Please ensure that your CV includes the most up-to-date details of your academic record thus far.)

The deadline for these submissions is 30 November 2017 and is open to all, including students who are very close to completing or under examination for their doctoral research. Students who will obtain their doctoral degree by February 2018 are eligible to apply, but the NRF will only approve applicants who have completed all requirements for the degree.

Contribute to Theoria’s African Philosophy and Rights special edition

This special issue of Theoria invites multi-and-interdisciplinary contributions on questions about rights in the light of characteristically African cultural values. Submissions should focus preferably but not exclusively on the status of rights in African philosophy/studies. Submissions should largely be theoretical rather than empirical.

Submissions on the following topics, among others, are particularly welcome:
* What is the nature and character of the concept of rights influenced by African axiological resources?
* Do rights feature as part of a plausible conception of Afro-communitarianism?
* What are the implications of the normative idea of personhood for the idea of rights?
* Are rights strictly a Western concept/value?
* Is there an African philosophical paradigm of rights?
* What philosophical foundations could be offered to justify rights from an African perspective? Are rights ‘natural’? Are they ‘cultural’? Or, they just a ‘fiction’?
* Are rights ‘universal’ or ‘relative’?
* What contributions can African philosophy contribute to the global discourse of rights?
* Should African philosophy concern itself with the idea of rights at all?

Submission date for manuscript to undergo the review process is: 15 Feb 2018.

For submission click here
For style guide click here
For any other inquiries contact Sherran Clarence; Motsamai Molefe or Chris Allsobrook.