Geographies of the Post-military city

Start date: 1 January 2017

Mode: 3 years, full time

This PhD will engage with and develop the notion of the 'post-military' city. The concept acknowledges the significance of military activities in the shaping of urban space, but recognises that contemporary geographies of the military and militarisation are in constant flux. In many places the relative importance of military presences and activities in the urban fabric has declined as a result of wide-ranging cuts to defence spending and personnel numbers, and base and facility closure and privatisation. Yet, despite the decline of formal military presences in cities, these are spaces inhabited by a variety of individuals, groups and institutions which had/have military ties (e.g. Herman and Yarwood 2015; Environment and Planning A). Such actors and phenomenon, we argue, are central to the shaping of "wider economic, social, environmental and cultural geographies, and produce their own ordering of space" (Woodward Military Geographies 2004: 5).

By offering a renewed vision of Shaw's (1991, Post-military society) notion of the 'post-military society', the project will ground post-militarism in British cities. Via contemporary literatures in military, political and/or social geography, and a broader multi-disciplinary literature associated with Critical Military Studies (see Rech et al. 2014, Critical Military Studies), the project will ask: a) what happens after active deployment, or base or facility closure, for example, and; b) whether states of 'post-militarism' are indicative of wider and systemic changes to civil-military relations and the shape of everyday military geographies.

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant MSc or MRes qualification.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Matthew Rech. However, applications must be made in accordance with the details shown below.

General information about applying for a research degree at Plymouth University is available at: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/the-graduate-school/applicants-and-enquirers.

You can apply via the online application form here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/postgraduate and select ‘Apply’.

Please mark it FAO Sharon Healy and clearly state that you are applying for a PhD studentship within the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Please attach a covering letter detailing your suitability for the studentship, a CV and two academic references.

For more information on the admissions process please contact Sharon Healy.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 14 November 2016.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in early December. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received an offer of a place by 16 December 2016 should consider their application has been unsuccessful.