Scholarships & funding

CoSS PhD Scholarship – Advancing Democratic Localism in Scotland: assessing the impacts of Community Wealth Building, Place-based Regeneration and the Green New Deal

Information on the School/Research Group

School of Social and Political Sciences, Governance, Activism, Space and Place Research Group

This research group is interested in how people experience, understand, shape and plan places and space in cities and other urban areas. We study who and what drives urban change, who is impacted by urban change, and the extent to which different voices can be heard within existing systems. To achieve this we especially look at the relative balance between global actors, central and local governments, communities and the private sector in shaping the future of urban areas. Our research focuses on, but is not limited to, four main themes detailed below:

• Urban planning, urban design and placemaking
• Urban politics, urban governance practices and citizen engagement
• Urban heritage and the meaning of place
• Urban sustainability and urbane futures

Abstract

This studentship will identify the conditions in which governance can advance democratic decision-making within communities.

“Democratic localism” is defined as the empowerment of citizens to self-govern local resources. There are obstacles, notably the centralisation of politics, the embeddedness of delivery-focused policy and political disengagement within communities. The project will develop conceptual, empirical and applied knowledge on the effectiveness of Scottish Government initiatives to advance democracy at the local level. The Scottish Government has prioritised community empowerment in recent landmark policies.

This studentship examines the impacts of three:

• Community Wealth Building (CWB),
• Place-based Regeneration (P-BR) and
• the Green New Deal (GND).

Research will examine how general and specific barriers emerge, detailing ways forward in relation to CWB, P-BR and GND. Qualitative comparative case studies will be conducted of areas with high deprivation and strong testing grounds for local development and democracy. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, participant observation and literature analysis will be used to assess decision-making processes. The original contributions of research are expected to be:

1. conceptually, to develop a novel analytical framework for democratic localism;
2. empirically, to offer the first comparative assessment of the democratic potential of CWB, P-BR and GND in Scotland;
3. to feed applied policy insights on advancing democratic localism into governmental and public debates in and beyond Scotland.

Research will be of great practical use in revealing how democratising initiatives are positioned in relation to other concerns (e.g. green economy), how they succeed or fail with the public, what resources help them prosper and what governance arrangements are most effective.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants will have a good Master's degree (or overseas equivalent).
• Applicants will have a demonstratable interest in the topic area under investigation.
• Applicants can study part-time or full-time.
• Applicants will have a background in urban studies, planning, human geography, political science or a closely related discipline
• Applicants will be adept at using methods of qualitiative researh (e.g. interviews, participant observation) and will be willing to conduce extensive field work.
• Applicants will have the ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including community groups, citizens, regenerationg experts and local government representatives.

Please note that all applicants must also meet the entry requirements for the Urban Studies, PhD. 

Number of Scholarships

1

Value

The scholarship is available as a +3 programme only. The programme will commence in October 2023. The funding includes:

• An annual maintenance grant (stipend) at the UKRI rate - Stipend at the UKRI level (£17,688 in 2022/23); 10
• Fees at the standard home or international rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £750 per year

How to apply

Application process

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal, uploading the following documentation:

• Scholarship - Advancing Democratic Localism in Scotland application form (in Word format)
• Academic transcripts (All relevant Undergraduate and Master’s level degree transcripts (and translations, if not originally in English) – provisional transcripts are sufficient if you are yet to complete your degree).
• Academic Prizes
• 2 written references (where possible your references should include an academic familiar with your work. Both references can be from academics but you may include a work reference, especially if you have been out of academia for more than 5 years).
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (academic where applicable).

Closing Date: 13 April 2023

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by the project team. Shortlisted applicants may be requested to attend an Interview.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme within the School of Social and Political Sciences. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

For more information contact: Dr Ross Beveridge (Ross.Beveridge@glasgow.ac.uk)