Political Power in Times of Crises on the Peripheries of Europe: Spain and Poland in 17th and 18th centuries

PhD Advisor: Prof. Jan Kieniewicz

It is of crucial importance for the interpretation of Modern European History to understand the relationship between those who are in power and those who are being governed, especially during periods of crises. From this point of view, Poland and Spain are located not only at the frontiers of the continent, but also at opposite ends of the political forms of statehood. While being clearly distinct, the Polish and Spanish forms of political power are both also very different from those adopted at the center of Europe. As doctoral student, you will be invited to explore these multilateral comparisons. This research field is composed of two either autonomous or complementary parts: 1/ “Polish and Spanish Perspectives on Corruption in Public Life in Modern History”. It will be completed in collaboration with Prof. Alfredo Alvar Ezquerra; 2/ “Political Elites in Times of Crisis of Old Regimes. Poland and Spain in 18th century as Case Studies of Forced Transformations”. It will be completed in collaboration with Prof. Jose Luis Gomez Urdañez.

If you choose this field of doctoral research you will complete your fellowships abroad at the following Partner Institutions:

Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Consejo Superior de Investigationes Cientificas, Madrid
Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales of the Consejo Superior de Investigationes Cientificas is the most important and the largest of scientific institutions of its kind in Spain. It is part of the Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales of the Spanish Academy of Science (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas – CSIC). It contains a very large specialized library (over 1 million volumes, the third of which in free access). It is composed of 23 research teams and its staff numbers over 60 scholars, 12 doctoral students and 20 fellows. It publishes 8 periodicals, among others the most renowned Spanish review on history: “Hispania. Revista Española de historia.” For two years now, the Institute is located in an ultramodern building which offers the newest equipment and all the facilities necessary to conduct advanced research in the humanities. You will work under the supervision of Prof. Alfredo Alvar Ezquerra. For more information, see:
http://www.ih.csic.es

Departamento de Historia, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño
The University of La Rioja is a modern, very dynamic institution, open to international cooperation and keen to establish a user-friendly environment for the students. Its library is comprised of a quarter of a million of volumes, over 6,000 periodicals, offers access to many databases and a very efficient system of interlibrary loan. The trademark of the University of La Rioja is the interdisciplinarity of its research teams. The Department of History publishes its own periodical of national importance (Brocar. Cuadernos de investigación histórica) and hosts an interdisciplinary network of scholars interested in modern history GEMUR (Grupo de Estudios Modernisatas de la Universidad de La Rioja). Part of GEMUR is a research team devoted to comparative history of Poland and Spain, lead by Prof. Jose Luis Gomez Urdañez, under the supervision of whom you will be working. For more information, see:
http://www.unirioja.es/servicios/sgib/investigacion/grupos_de_investigacion/derecho.shtml