PhD Studentship in Research Project REDEFINE: The Dynamics and Effects of Chinese Infrastructure Investment in Europe

Location:  Milton Keynes

3 Year Studentship

Closing Date: 31^st March 2023 - 17:00 

We are delighted to invite applications for a PhD Studentship funded by the FASS department (European Research Council & Horizon 2020). This research project, based in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, seeks to examine the impacts of China’s growing role in European infrastructure investment and what this means for both Europe’s place in the world and understandings of global development.

Project scope (Summary, see Further details)

The 2013-16 period saw China investing heavily across Europe and it is likely to remain an important source of finance even though the pandemic and changing attitudes towards China have altered the political landscape. While China views Europe as fertile ground for infrastructure investment, many European and Chinese firms and governments are ill-equipped to deal with these political and economic changes. The REDEFINE project seeks to understand what is driving these investment projects, how these projects are put together, and what impacts they are having at a range of scales. REDEFINE examines the role that China is now playing in Europe, by looking at Chinese investments in critical infrastructure in four countries – UK, Germany, Hungary and Greece.  It is an innovative inter-disciplinary project which cuts across geography, politics, planning, urban studies, economics, sociology, anthropology, and development studies.

REDEFINE is structured around 3 broad themes and we welcome PhD projects that address one or more of these themes in innovative and original ways. The themes are:

Theme 1: Driving - Understanding the motives for China’s move westwards & Europe’s infrastructure needs China has increased investment and trade with resource-producing countries, but Chinese firms are also seeking technology, know-how and experience of international business. REDEFINE aims to better understand the range of Chinese firms operating in Europe, assess their business models, and track Europe’s and China’s changing policy environment that shapes the internationalisation.

Theme 2: Gathering - Understanding the multi-scaled modalities of infrastructure projects China’s involvement in Europe includes both state-sponsored investment vehicles and corporations and private sources of investment that tend to be less regulated. REDEFINE focuses on the nature and experience of the emergent partnerships between Chinese and European firms, as well as the engagement of Chinese investors with national state agencies at local, regional and national levels.

Theme 3 - Understanding the outcomes of & reactions to Chinese investment As recent EU policy has acknowledged, regulation of Chinese investments is critical given a range of concerns around financial probity, security, intellectual property and standards. Linked to analyzing regulation are other outcomes so REDEFINE aims to assess a range of issues including economic localisation, regulation, political resistance, and broader changes in identity.

REDEFINE takes a disaggregated approach to unpack project-by-project effects. Through comparative case studies in the UK, Germany, Greece and Hungary (see further details) REDEFINE will produce fine-grained analysis to address these 3 themes  By better understanding how investment deals operate, REDEFINE will connect Chinese and European government and corporate actors in order to influence their strategies and practices.

How to apply

• A project proposal of between 1,500 and 2,000 words that includes a provisional title, research questions, a summary of previous evidence and/or theory, an outline of the methods you will use, any ethical considerations, and a timeline. We are looking for PhD projects which augment rather than replicate the main REDEFINE project.

Students are encouraged to identify a focused project that is achievable and advances current work. Helpful guidance on writing a research proposal is available here: https://genderate.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/proposal/

• Contact details of two references, preferably people who can comment on your academic ability and potential.

• A completed application form available from http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/mphil-and-phd-application-process

• A short cover letter to introduce yourself and explain how your experience, skills and proposed PhD project relates to the REDEFINE project.

• Completed application forms, together with a research proposal and a covering letter should be sent to FASS-PhD-Applications@open.ac.uk

If your application is viewed positively by the REDEFINE team you will be invited for an interview.

Closing date: noon 31 March 2023 - 17:00 GMT

Equal opportunity is University Policy.