Ph.D.-vacancy (legal iconography) at Ghent University (Legal History Institute & Research Unit Social History after 1750) (DEADLINE: 31 AUGUST 2012)

THE RESEARCH UNIT ‘SOCIAL HISTORY SINCE 1750’ (HISTORY DEPARTMENT, FACULTY OF ARTS AND PHILOSOPHY) AND THE ‘LEGAL HISTORY INSTITUTE’ (LAW FACULTY) (GHENT UNIVERSITY) CURRENTLY HAVE A POSITION AVAILABLE FOR A: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHER (PHD STUDENT)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: THE ICONOGRAPHY OF LAW AND JUSTICE IN BELGIUM IN THE 19th AND 20th CENTURIES
The 1831 Belgian constitution is known as one of the most modern and liberal ones of the 19th century. It established, amongst other new principles, an independent judiciary, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Jurists played an important role in the Belgian revolution and the state’s first governments, but were also very active as (critical) journalists.

Both the jurists of ‘the establishment’ (in the three section of the trias politica) as of the ‘public opinion’ made use of art and architecture in their ‘discourse’. New ‘temples’ of judicature were created on the one hand, with splendid statues and murals. On the other hand, satiric drawings illuminated the critical press. Both these artistic visions on law and justice have antecedents in the Ancient Regime.
Allegories, symbols and themes are repeated, but also reinterpreted. Legal iconography studies the meaning and the roles of these representations in the identity building of the state, the judiciary and the legal profession.

The PhD research project will establish a catalogue of ‘classical’ and ‘new’ allegories and symbols, as well as of their inventors. The research will investigate both the legitimizing and critical power of images in law and justice. This PhD-project is funded by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles (IAP) of the Belgian Science Policy Office and is part of the project ‘Justice & Populations’.

QUALIFICATIONS
- The candidate has a Master’s degree in History, Art History or Law or a Master’s degree with demonstrable interest in historical research
- The candidate has experience with qualitative and quantitative research
- The candidate masters Dutch, French and English
- The candidate has a passive knowledge of German
- The candidate is an enthusiastic and inventive team player

OFFER
- A 4-year contract as a full time scientific staff member of Ghent University
- Contact with national and international research groups
- Opportunity to follow an individualized PhD program at the UGent Doctoral School of Arts, Humanities and Law, including
language courses
- Extra benefits: free public transport between home and work place; biking fee; access to university sports facilities and university restaurants
Start of the project: October 1st, 2012

APPLY
If you are interested in joining us, please send your CV and a short research plan (maximum 2500 words) describing how you would conduct the research (in Dutch, French, German or English), before August 31, 2012 to: prof. dr. Dirk Heirbaut (dirk.heirbaut@ugent.be)