Department of History and Cultural Studies

East Asia

Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script" (SCRIPTS)

Student assistant (m/f/d) 41 h/month limited to 31.08.2025

reference code: SCRIPTS_Kostka_SHK2024_E

Bewerbungsende: 09.12.2024

Prof. Kostka at the Institute for Chinese Studies is looking for a student assistant (m/f/d) for the Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)”.

The Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)” is a research consortium that analyses the contemporary controversies about the model of liberal democracy and the market economy. The term “liberal script” relates to a set of ideas and institutional prescriptions about how society is organised based on the core principle of individual self-determination. The main purpose of SCRIPTS is to understand why the liberal model of order has fallen into crisis despite its political, economic, and social achievements.

SCRIPTS has been operating since 2019 and is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) until the end of 2025. The Cluster is hosted by the Freie Universität Berlin and unites eight major Berlin-based research institutes. Cluster research teams are made up of doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and professors from social, political, and area studies. SCRIPTS is well connected with research institutes and knowledge exchange partners throughout the world, including political and cultural organisations, as well as civil society actors. In addition, SCRIPTS brings renowned visiting scholars from all over the world to Berlin.

Job description:

Assistance with scientific research and bibliography work. Topics: Propaganda, international politics, Ukraine crisis, social media analysis, China's digital transformation, Russia-China comparison.

The project of Prof. Kostka and Prof. Libman analyzes the construction of ‘alternative’ narratives by authoritarian governments competing against the liberal script and the way these narratives are perceived, reinterpreted and negotiated by the population of their countries. We focus at Russia and China and the narratives their regimes supply with respect to the war in Ukraine and the development of new dividing lines, blocks and alliances in the world associated with this war.

The selection is done according to the SCRIPTS Diversity Rules & Guidelines: https://www.scripts-berlin.eu/about-us/Diversity/SCRIPTS_-Diversity_-Rules-_-Guidelines1/index.html

Desirable:

- studies in Chinese Studies / Sinology, Political Science or Economics, or another subject with a focus on China;
- at least good language skills in modern Chinese (HSK5) and English (C1).
- basic knowledge of political science or interest in research topic
- good teamwork skills

For further information, please contact Lu Bai (lu.bai@fu-berlin.de / 030-838 51280).

Further information

Applications should be sent by e-mail, together with significant documents (cover letter, curriculum vitae, certificate of enrollment and transcript of records), indicating the reference code, in PDF format (preferably as one document) to Prof. Dr. Genia Kostka: lu.bai@fu-berlin.de or postal to

Freie Universität Berlin

Fachbereich Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften

Ostasien und Vorderer Orient

Exzellenzcluster "Contestations of the Liberal Script" (SCRIPTS)

Frau Prof. Dr. Genia Kostka

Fabeckstr. 23-25

14195 Berlin (Dahlem)

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