Civil Society and European Union Environmental and Energy Governance

To celebrate the University's research successes, the University of Hull is offering one full-time UK/EU PhD Scholarship or International Fees Bursary for candidates applying for the following project

Closing date: - 2nd February 2015.
Studentships will start on 28th September 2015

Proposal:
Societal actors such as environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) have played an important role in European Union (EU) environmental governance. They have also increasingly been involved in the EU’s fledging attempts to develop an energy union. Especially in EU climate change governance civil society organisations have been active, often forming novel alliances and networks to further their causes. Social movements have also mobilised around issues of environmental and energy governance, sometimes utilising tools such as the European Citizens’ Initiative. In a broader context, the involvement of civil society actors in these policy areas is viewed as an important counterweight to the power and influence of business. Yet so far little systematic research has been conducted on the roles played and strategies used by civil society actors in EU environmental and energy governance. The interplay between civil society actors on the EU and member state levels has also been neglected by researchers.

This PhD project will assess the societal dimension of EU environmental and/or energy governance via the roles and functions played by civil society actors such as ENGOs as well as new alliances and social movements. We welcome in particular projects which compare and contrast the role of civil society actors as well as new climate and/or energy governance alliances on the EU and member state level. Inter-disciplinary approaches are strongly welcome.

The main aims of this PhD are:
• To outline and analyse the frequently neglected societal dimension of EU environmental and energy governance
• To identify and critically assess the roles and functions civil society actors in EU environmental and/or energy governance;
• To analyse the interplay between civil society actors on the EU and member state level;
• To make a significant contribute to the EU environmental and/or energy governance literature;
The PhD project will draw on multiple literatures including but not limited to those on EU environmental and energy governance, social movements and civil society, Europeanisation and multi-level governance. It may bebased on qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.

This PhD student will be attached to the Centre for European Union Studies (CEUS) and the University of Hull’s Interdisciplinary Energy and Environment Institute

www.hull.ac.uk/phd

In order to qualify for this scholarship you will require an undergraduate degree with at least a 2.1 and Masters, or equivalent in a relevant subject.
Full-time UK/EU PhD Scholarships will include fees at the ‘home/EU' student rate and maintenance (£13,863 in 2014/15) for three years, depending on satisfactory progress.
Full-time International Fee PhD Studentships will include full fees at the International student rate for three years, dependent on satisfactory progress.
PhD students at the University of Hull follow modules for research and transferable skills development and gain a Masters level Certificate, or Diploma, in Research Training, in addition to their research degree.
Successful applicants will be informed of the award as soon as possible and by 17th April 2015 at the latest.