Assistant Professor in Comparative Politics/International Relations

University of Arkansas System • Fayetteville, AR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Political Science in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in Comparative Politics or International Relations to start in August 2027 whose research and teaching focus on non-governmental organizations and civil society actors. We particularly encourage candidates with research and teaching interests in critical approaches to non-governmental organizations and civil society actors who study global humanitarian action, international crises, displacement and post-conflict reconstruction. Geographical focus on the Middle East, North Africa, or the Mediterranean is required. The successful candidate is expected to offer undergraduate and graduate courses in their area of expertise. Ability to complement current course offerings of the Department of Political Science and of the Center for Middle East Studies by teaching courses on international non-governmental organizations, civil society actors, transnational networks, global humanitarian action, and reconstruction especially as they pertain to contemporary political developments in the MENA region and in the Mediterranean is desirable. The expected teaching load will be two courses per semester. Faculty hired in this position will have an opportunity to be a part of Fulbright College’s multidisciplinary Democracy as a Public Good cluster hire at the University of Arkansas. Through its Democracy as a Public Good Initiative, the College will advance the University’s land-grant mission by expanding capacity to generate knowledge that informs public understanding, contributes to policy and practice, and connects Arkansas to national and international conversations about societal good. Building on existing campus expertise in issues ranging from norms of democratic communication, free speech, media ethics and literacy, humanitarian governance and civil society, risks that AI poses to democratic governance, immigration, and public law, new faculty members participating in the cluster will advance their research agendas through mentoring and opportunities for collaboration—both with other scholars and with communities in the state—that may result in peer-reviewed publications, external funding, and new approaches to the pressing challenges that democracy faces. The successful candidate for this position will have an opportunity to join a community of scholars committed to confronting major issues, generating new knowledge, and providing research-based solutions that investigate and strengthen democratic culture for people living in Arkansas and beyond. This is an in-person position. Most university classes are offered face-to-face, and extensive in-person engagement in such activities as office hours, student advising, and departmental, college, and university committee meetings is essential to advancing student success and departmental effectiveness. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. degree in Political Science or closely related field with specializations in comparative politics and/or international relations or in related fields from an accredited university of higher education conferred by August 2027
• A record of successful research and published works (e.g., journal articles published in reputable outlets)
• A well-defined and coherent research agenda that critically analyzes NGOs and civil society actors in the study of global humanitarian action, international crises, displacement and post-conflict reconstruction
• Evidence of effective teaching (e.g., teaching evaluations, sample syllabi, teaching portfolio, awards, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate introductory courses.
• Regional focus on MENA or the Mediterranean

Nice To Haves

• An ability to teach some combination of the following courses at the undergraduate or graduate level: International Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society Actors, International Crises and Humanitarian Action, Transnational Networks
• Experience with teaching introductory courses in Comparative Politics or/and International Relations
• An active and coherent research agenda that is well-grounded in theory, especially in critical and interdisciplinary approaches, and backed by strong analytical and interpretative skills
• A record of scholarly research published in high-tier outlets as well as promise of future publications in similar outlets
• Specialization in issues related to critical approaches to NGOs, civil society actors, transnational networks, and global humanitarianism in the context of international crises, migration and displacement, and post-conflict reconstruction is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with a broad student population
• Demonstrated potential to secure external grant funding
• Demonstrated commitment to active scholarly service and engagement
• Demonstrated potential for national and international scholarly reputation

Responsibilities

• 40% Teaching or Professional Performance
• 40% Research/Scholarly and/or Creative Activities
• 20% Academic Service Activities

Benefits

• university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance
• tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• immediate leave accrual
• a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree