Job Description

of the West of England invites applications for a Fully Funded Doctoral Researcher in the MSCA Doctoral Network SOCIAL - Sociology of Authoritarian Law.
Do you want to investigate how corruption and political connectedness shape access to scarce economic resources and opportunities? Institutional quality plays a decisive role in determining who gets access to resources and opportunities. In many authoritarian regimes, corruption and political connectedness can distort the market, disadvantage more productive businesses, and reduce overall economic efficiency. This PhD opportunity is your chance to join an ambitious international research programme exploring these challenges in the context of Central Asia.
Project Overview
This fully funded doctoral position is part of the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network Sociology of Authoritarian Law (SOCIAL), funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement No 101226419. SOCIAL, a consortium of 14 leading universities across Europe and Canada, will train 17 doctoral candidates to investigate law-society-governance dynamics under authoritarian regimes in Central Asia. SOCIAL has three core aims: advancing empirical and theoretical understanding of how law operates in authoritarian contexts; delivering sustainable, interdisciplinary doctoral training across disciplines and regions; and engaging in policy outreach, transforming research into practical insights via workshops, publications, and policy briefs.
PhD Topic Description
The doctoral project at UWE Bristol forms part of SOCIAL's second work package (WP2) on the political economy of authoritarian law. It will focus on how corruption and political connectedness influence access to scarce economic resources and opportunities, including access to bank credit, in Central Asia.
The project will examine how institutional quality affects equality of opportunity and economic participation, the ways informal and unethical practices, such as corruption and interpersonal connectedness, shape access to economic resources and opportunities, and the mechanisms through which such practices marginalise more productive businesses, distort resource allocation, and undermine economic efficiency. An empirical approach will be used to analyse these dynamics. Findings are intended to inform both academic understanding and policy interventions.
The doctoral candidate will be based at the Bristol Business School of UWE for most of the three years, undertake funded secondments with SOCIAL partner and associate partner institutions; will collaborate closely with 16 other doctoral candidates across the network, take part in joint training through workshops and summer schools, work with academic supervisors and stakeholders, benefiting from joint supervision and strong transferable skills development.
Host Institution
UWE Bristol is one of the largest providers of higher education in the Southwest of England. Based in Bristol, a thriving and multi-cultural city just over an hour by train from London and surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Southwest of England and Wales, the University is regionally embedded and internationally connected.
The Bristol Business School is renowned for research across economics, governance, and development, offering a vibrant and inclusive research culture. Research group Bristol Research in Economics (BRE) is an internationally recognised cluster of leading economists pursuing innovative research in intersecting areas of economics including applied economics, development economics, political economy and regional studies. BRE has an active membership and runs collective activities including regular seminars, early career workshops, and group meetings. Research collaborations are encouraged and members can apply for internal seed funding for getting exciting new ideas off the ground. For further detail please see .
Essential Skills & Qualifications

• A relevant master's degree relating to economics, economic development, development studies, behavioural science, or a related field.
• Excellent English speaking, reading, and writing skills (applicants will need IELTS score of 7.0 overall, or equivalent).
• Strong mixed-methods research skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Effective communication skills for academic and non-academic audiences.
• Motivation to engage in interdisciplinary research and policy outreach.

Desirable

• Experience integrating methods and theories from multiple disciplines.
• Experience working with both quantitative and qualitative data.

Salary & Eligibility
You will be employed on a 36-month contract under the conditions of the MSCA Doctoral Network scheme which includes: gross salary of EUR4,051/month (approx. 3,330/month); mobility allowance of EUR494/month (approx. 406/month); and family allowance of EUR345/month (approx. 283/month), if applicable.
Eligibility conditions

• You must not already hold a doctoral degree.
• You must have an IELTS score of 7.0 overall or equivalent.
• You must not have lived or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the UK for more than 12 months in the 36 months before your recruitment date.
• You can be of any nationality.

Where is this role based?
This post is based at our lively campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.
Why UWE Bristol?
We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in vibrant , our ambitions are to make a positive difference to our planet, transforming futures through actions and solving real world challenges.
We offer a wide range of including progressive pay rates, very generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.
We also provide a tailored professional programme to support our academic colleagues in delivering the highest in professional teaching standards.
Add your individuality to ours
UWE Bristol recognises the power of a .
We are proud to be part of a dynamic, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we're always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our stimulating and supportive community where we'll help you thrive.
We particularly encourage applications from global majority and male/female* candidates as we are currently under-represented in this area, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.
As a employer we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.
Further information
If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role please contact Kobil Ruziev email: Kobil.Ruziev@uwe.ac.uk
This is a full-time, 36 months fixed-term post, on a 1FTE contract.
UWE Bristol is a campus-based University, and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based for most of your time, with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days.
Right to Work in the UK
The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK. You will therefore be required to provide evidence of this right, please refer to the for information on which documents are acceptable.
We may be able to sponsor qualifying candidates for this role under the Home Office Skilled Worker visa route. Please read our to assess if you will be eligible. If you do not qualify or have no current right to work in the UK you may wish to explore .
Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.
Advice to applicants
We'd love to hear from you - if you are excited about this opportunity please complete our application form as soon as possible.
A complete application should contain the following information in pdf format: * Cover letter (max. 2 pages).

• Research proposal (2-3 pages) outlining your interest in the topic.
• CV (up to 3 pages including list of publications).
• Degree certificates and academic transcripts.
• Contact details for two academic referees

A successful candidate will be asked to complete a UWE PhD application form.
A successful candidate will comply with the UWE doctoral programme requirements, including adherence to UWE regulations, achievement of key milestone deadlines, and submission of the thesis within the stipulated timeframe.

Skills Required