CFA: Researcher, Using History in Genocide Prevention (Deadline: Rolling)
CFA: Researcher, Using History in Genocide Prevention
Deadline: Rolling
Seeking Researcher
Currently seeking researcher for a new, grant-based project that will be launching this winter with the Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability (AHDA) program at Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. The project, entitled “Using History in Genocide Prevention,” seeks to explore and more fully understand the ways in which historical dialogue mechanisms have been used, and can be used, as a tool in genocide and mass atrocity prevention. That is, while the work of genocide prevention experts focuses on important issues such as economic, political or security incentives, historical aspects of the conflict at hand—the identity of the stakeholders, their animosity towards each other, and other root causes of conflict, are often viewed as too danger to be engaged. Historical dialogue seeks to engage history as a form of genocide prevention, and to use history as a key component in addressing animosities that provide fodder for politicians and citizens within and among countries at risk of genocide. The goal of this project, then, is to enable practitioners and students of genocide prevention to develop projects that engage the past as a means to preventing genocide.
To this end, we seek a researcher who is interested in investigating and researching the field of genocide prevention both in terms of scholarly contributions and knowledge production as well as work going on in the field. The researcher’s responsibilities are two-fold: first, to map existing projects and work being done in the area of genocide prevention that take up the topic of past violence and the memory of past violence. Second, the researcher will research the parameters of the field of genocide prevention itself, ultimately producing a thorough bibliographical essay that explores its main texts and issues, its challenges and controversies.
This is a one-year, part-time (25 hours/week) position, hourly pay commensurate with experience. The ideal candidate is a graduate student or post-doctoral student whose research interests focus on historical memory, genocide studies, human rights, historical dialogue or related fields. Ability to work independently is a must. Must be able to work legally in the United States to be considered for this position. To apply, please e-mail cover letter and cv to Ariella Lang, al223@columbia.edu, with subject heading “researcher”. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, beginning immediately.