Project background
The “Decades of Peace” project aims to answer a critical question: How do societies move from per-
sistent violence to sustainable peace? Despite a global decline in violence over centuries, many re-
gions, particularly in Latin America, remain plagued by persistently high levels of violence en-
trenched in local social structures. The “Decades of Peace” project proposes a novel theory of align-
ment between state and societal institutions as a mechanism to overcome persistent violence. The
research team will combine historical analysis, quantitative data, surveys, and qualitative interviews
to examine the influence of institutional change on violence trajectories over decades. By focusing
on local cases of violence reduction in otherwise violent countries, the project seeks to contribute to
strategies that promote sustainable peace.
Your responsibilities within the project
The postdoctoral researcher will mainly contribute to the creation, compilation, and administration
of quantitative data for this project, but will also have time to conduct their own research. This in-
cludes the following responsibilities:
• Create new indicators of historical violence based on textual sources
• Compile and integrate existing spatial panel data
• Develop and administer the infrastructure for the team’s data collection efforts
• Collaborate with team members, including doctoral students and research assistants
• Support research, organizational, and administrative tasks
Your profile
• PhD in a social science discipline (completed or close to completion)
• Strong skills in quantitative methods and data management
• Substantive interest in peace and conflict research, violence and institutions
• Ambition and ability to produce high-quality research, both independently and in a team
• Spanish language skills and exposure to the Latin American context are an advantage (the
working language is English)