PhD Studentship - Digital State Capitalism in International Business: Geopolitics, Digital Sovereignty and Techno-Nationalism

This PhD explores how dynamic geopolitical rivalry expressed through digitalisation strategies and techno-nationalism changes the relationship between states and international businesses. It examines how governments seek technological independence and how businesses respond to new opportunities, restrictions and pressures. 

You will compare countries with different political-economic systems to investigate emerging forms of ‘digital state capitalism’, or how states shape digital markets to pursue economic, security and political goals. Your findings will help businesses and policymakers understand the consequences of digitalisation strategies for international trade, innovation and business decision-making. 

Through comparative case studies, policy analysis and business and media data, you will develop skills in research design, critical analysis and communicating complex findings. You will draw on university databases and digital resources, supported by supervisors specialising in international business and state–business relations. 

Objectives

The study asks: 

• How are geopolitical rivalries transforming how states use digital technologies to influence international business? 

• How do states use regulatory, financial, infrastructural and organisational mechanisms to pursue different digitalisation strategies that seek to increase their technological autonomy? 

• How do these mechanisms and resulting forms of digital state capitalism vary across different political-economic systems? 

• How do MNEs respond to these interventions, and what are the consequences of their internationalisation strategies? 

• What are the consequences and outcomes for international trade, investment, and innovation?

Funding

This studentship is open to home and international applicants. Home and international tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the 3-year award.  

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £21,805 for the academic year 2026/27. 

Candidate requirements

Essential:

• Excellent research and communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity, diligence, and perseverance
• Good academic writing and analytical skills, with the ability to think critically about complex political-economic issues
• Engage critically with theories and concepts
• Investigate complex real-world data

Desirable: 

• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

• Familiarity with international political economy, digital governance, or related fields.
• Proficiency in a second language

How to apply

If you have any questions, please contact the proposed Principal Supervisor, Dr Sergey Sosnovskikh (s.sosnovskikh@mmu.ac.uk).

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full-time PhD in International Business. Please note that you are not required to submit a research proposal through the online application portal.

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form. Please outline how you would approach the research topic, including answering the project’s research questions; methods, sources of evidence and forms of analysis you would consider. Please also submit your CV and a covering letter to demonstrate how your skills and experience relate to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest.  

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal or email the requested documents to pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk.  

Expected start date: October 2027.

Please quote the reference: FoBL-SS-2027-28-Digital State Capitalism

This PhD project is one of six independent projects open for applications, with only three funded studentships available. All applications will go through an initial review stage conducted by the project supervisors. Candidates selected from this stage will be invited to a second-round interview, where final funding decisions will be made based on performance across all projects.

Advert information