Qualification Type: PhD
Location: Colchester
Funding for: UK Students, Self-funded Students
Funding amount: Living costs stipend at the UK Research and Innovation recommended level per year. The stipend for 2024-25 is £19,237. The rate for 2025-26 TBA.
Hours: Full Time
Placed On: 21st November 2024
Closes: 7th February 2025
Reference: 11363 Law_Business October 2025
Project Overview
This is an opportunity to conduct fully funded interdisciplinary research under the ‘Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme’ at the University of Essex.
This project focuses on the costs and benefits of unilateralism in pursuing sustainable transitions. In recent years, the EU has ramped up its use of unilateral economic instruments as a way of exerting leverage on third states in the areas of sustainability and climate policy. From the new Deforestation Regulation, to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the EU is using the power of its economic market to influence the behaviour of actors around the world. However, it is also experiencing push-back against its unilateral initiatives from multiple stakeholders including governments, businesses, and international organisations, and questions remain regarding whether these rules are effective in changing stakeholder behaviour.
The project will investigate the use of such unilateral international economic policies to pursue environmental goals, asking questions about the legality and legitimacy of these policies, as well as their effectiveness in achieving sustainable transitions, taking into account different actors and stakeholders and the role they play.
Interdisciplinary Focus and Methods
Methodologically, the project will combine traditional legal doctrinal analysis with multi-stakeholder analysis. Depending on the applicant’s interests, it may also make use of particular theoretical tools, such as post-colonial or post-Marxist approaches, political economic analysis, or narrative analysis to assist in evaluating the legitimacy and/or effectiveness of unilateral economic regulation for sustainable transitions.
Person Specification
This opportunity would suit a candidate with a degree/ background in law or international relations.
It is not necessary for the candidate to have necessarily have prior training in stakeholder analysis this will be provided on the programme.
