PRR Project

Summary

Rationale NOVA FCSH seeks to expand its academic staff by appointing an Assistant Researcher in the history of migrations and globalization. In this research position, the selected candidate is expected to develop groundbreaking research on the topic, considering the interconnectedness between the two phenomena. More specifically, she/he should explore the mutual impact of migrations and globalization in contemporary history, that is, the role of mobilities in the opening of international relations and the impact of globalization in the movement of populations. This scientific profile entails a strong ability to bridge the distance between different levels of analysis and topics of research, including those between the local and the global, the State and individuals, policy and territories, or the histories of labor and economic development. The articulation between all these terms should be able to overcome traditional historical approaches primarily based on the role of institutions and State powers, thus contributing to the recognition of the agency of migrants within global economic, political and social dimensions in contemporary history. Scientific profile The successful candidate will contribute to the research environments of both NOVA FCSH and the Institute of Contemporary History (IHC). In the case of NOVA FCSH, this contribution shall be developed within the scientific agendas of two of its research axes: “Society and Policies” and “Territories and Sustainable Environments”. The first includes the discussion and analysis of social policies, inequality, issues of education, health, housing, gender, ethnic discrimination, public policies towards security and social justice, bridging the focus from national political structures and regimes to the impact of global phenomena on populations. The second focuses on the relation between territories and populations, including issues of mobility and sustainability in the context of urbanization – and the emergence of metropolises – and transformations in rural areas. This axis also involves a reflection on territories in their different international relations, including cultural and religious diversity. At the IHC, this profile is close to several ongoing debates, particularly within the “Economy and Society” research group, on the making of State power and the history of contemporary capitalism, including issues such as population mobility, relations between center and periphery, the transnational circulation of social movements, repertoires of protest, forms of sociability, ideas and forms of work, leisure and culture, the formation of social networks, and the transformation of territories. The scientific profile also raises questions related to cultural identity and exchange, and presents a close relationship to research topics currently emerging in IHC’s “History of Science, Technology and the Environment” research group – around issues of social precariousness and sustainability – and of Thematic Line 5 of the Associated Laboratory IN2PAST, dedicated to “Cultural Transfers, Public Policies on Memory and Inclusive Citizenship”. On top of this involvement in ongoing debates and research groups at the IHC and NOVA FCSH, the researcher, given the nature of the scientific profile, should also contribute to other research strategies developed at the IHC, in particular the critique of methodological nationalism and the engagement with connected history. The researcher should in this sense be able to situate Portuguese national history, and in particular the history of Portuguese emigration, within broader histories of modern migration, thus contributing to the participation of IHC in historiographical debates and networks internationally. Key responsibilities In short, the researcher is expected to conduct several of the following research and academic tasks: -    To develop research on the history of migrations and globalization as interconnected phenomena; -    To consider the agency of migrants within global economic, political and social phenomena in contemporary history; -    To contribute to several research groups and agendas, at the IHC, the Associated Laboratory IN2PAST’s and NOVA FCSH; -    To teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses on the history of migrations and globalization at Faculty level; -    To actively seek and apply for opportunities of national and international funding, and to guide research towards forms of dissemination in line with public policies of inclusive citizenship; -    To engage in ongoing debates on the history of migrations in relation to the history of modern state power and capitalism; -    To contribute to research agenda of IHC, particularly the critique of methodological nationalism and the engagement with connected history.