Call for Applications – re:constitution Fellowships 2024/2025

The unique Fellowship concept centred around the mobility and a network of Fellows helps to bridge the gap between academia and practice and promotes exchange and debate across borders and disciplines.

The re:constitution Programme

• In light of the existing and future challenges in the European Union and its neighbourhood, re:constitution tries to strengthen the common ground for the rule of law and democratic principles by encouraging pan-European mobility, debate and the formation of a network of scholars and practitioners of law and democracy. Since 2019, re:constitution annually awards Fellowships to early-career scholars and practitioners to work on personal projects related to the rule of law and democracy in Europe.
• The programme enables Fellows to contribute to the debate on the state and future of the constitution of the European Union, encourages exchange and debate across and within national positions in the Union and its neighbourhood, across academia and practice. Based on a unique concept centred around mobility for collaboration combined with opportunities of exchange and a European Alumni Network, the Fellowship programme is designed to contribute to safeguarding and strengthening the rule of law, democracy and the respect of fundamental rights.
• Structure
  • re:constitution Fellowships are designed for both academics and practitioners and will be awarded for the period from October 2024 to July 2025. The Fellowships are offered in two tracks to better accommodate individual professional requirements and personal circumstances of the applicants. Fellows from both tracks will have equal access to all parts of the programme and together they will constitute the interdisciplinary and international re:constitution cohort of 2024/25.
• Track 1 – Full Time
  • 10 Fellowships available
  • Mobility period of 6 months to be taken flexibly between October 2024 and July 2025
  • Research stays at TWO host institutions in EU / non-EU EEA / EU candidate countries / UK or CH during mobility period, divided between a research institution and an institution working in a practical context and on a full-time basis each. The host institutions’ locations must differ from the country of residence during the time of the Fellowship
  • Stipend of 2.500,- € per mobility month to cover 6-month mobility phase
  • Participation in 3 Fellows’ Exchange Meetings over 2-3 days each mandatory (First meeting: October 2024 in-person in Berlin, Second meeting: February 2025 online, Third meeting: June 2025 in-person outside of Germany)
  • Presentation of re:constitution research project and full participation in Online Fellow Talks series.
• Track 2 – Shorter mobility period with part-time option
  • 5 Fellowships available
  • Mobility period of 3 months full-time (or 6 months part-time) to be taken flexibly between October 2024 and July 2025
  • Research stay at ONE host institution in EU/non-EU EEA/EU candidate countries/UK or CH during mobility period, with a duration of 3 months on full-time basis, OR of 6 months on a part-time basis. The location of the host institution must differ from the country of residence during the time of the Fellowship. Since the Fellowships are designed to converge academia and practice, we encourage practitioners to approach host institutions in academia if beneficial to their projects.
  • Stipend of 2.500,- € per mobility month to cover 3-month full-time, OR 1.250,- € per mobility month to cover 6-month part-time mobility phase.
  • Participation in at least 2 out of 3 Fellows’ Exchange Meetings (Attendance of the first in-person meeting in October 2024 in Berlin is mandatory. Subsequently, Fellows should attend at least one of these remaining meetings: Second meeting: February 2025 online, Third meeting: June 2025 in-person outside of Germany.
  • Presentation of re:constitution research project in Online Fellow Talks series, participation in full series optional, but appreciated.

Benefits

• Independence for scholars and practitioners to research and publish on an issue of their choice connected to democracy and the rule of law in the EU.
• Funding for mobility via collaboration with select host institutions across the EU, non-EU EEA, EU candidate countries, the UK or CH, offering new personal and remote work and exchange opportunities.
• Exchange and debate on topical projects in high-quality and flexible environment of mutual learning and debate among scholars, legal practitioners and journalists from across Europe.
• Networking through multi-faceted exchange about democracy and the rule of law in personal meetings with leading experts and decision makers from across Europe and different backgrounds offering diverse perspectives.
• Shaping the future re:constitution alumni network to build a sustainable community of knowledge with potential for further collaboration and support.
• Support by the coordination team and access to a secure digital collaborative working space provided by Forum Transregionale Studien.
• Opportunities to become involved in the broader analytical work of the re:constitution programme run by DRI, based on interests and availability.
• Training courses to promote Fellows’ further career development, particularly in the areas of interdisciplinary, intersectoral or transregional competences or to expand methodological knowledge.

With accepting the Fellowship, the applicants will agree

• To pursue an independent research project about an issue pertaining to the programmatic scope of re:constitution,
• To select host institutions across the EU, non-EU EEA, EU candidate countries, UK or CH and to manage their own research stays of 6 months at two host institutions working in academia and practise (Track 2: one host institution, with a research stay of 3–6 months),
• To attend the Fellows’ Exchange Meetings in October 2024, February and June 2025 (Track 2: Fellows’ Exchange Meeting in October 2024 mandatory, February and/or June 2025)
• To ensure their participation in the Fellow Talk series to present their research and discuss other Fellows’ research projects (Track 2: Presentation mandatory, participation in full series optional, but appreciated.),
• To publish the project results and outcomes in a suitable format. These can be re:constitution Working Papers (for any academic papers) or alternatively, other output formats (e.g. policy papers, op-eds, reports, essays, podcast episodes, blog posts etc). Producing one type of outcome is the minimal requirement; further publication and dissemination is welcome. Please specify your preference/s in the application!

Eligibility Criteria

• re:constitution invites applications from residents in the European Union, non-EU EEA countries, EU candidate countries in active accession negotiations or pursuing the start of negotiations, as well as from residents in Switzerland and the United Kingdom in the early stages of their careers as
  • Scholars holding a PhD in law/legal studies and/or political sciences, social sciences, philosophy or other neighbouring disciplines (focusing on issues on and around democracy and/or the rule of law in Europe). Your PhD research should have been completed no more than 10 years ago. Scholars who are still working on their dissertation may be eligible if their PhD is close to completion (within a year).
  • Practitioners such as
    • Government officials (e.g. policy advisors) from central authorities and local self-government bodies,
    • Judges, magistrates, prosecutors, law clerks and other legal professions or practising lawyers (attorneys)
    • NGO/think tank legal/policy experts working on rule of law and democracy Europe,
    • Journalists reporting on the rule of law and/or democracy in Europe,
    • General researchers/legal experts working on questions pertaining to the rule of law and/or democracy Europe
• Notes:
  • This list is non-exhaustive. They strive for a diverse cohort of Fellows from academia and practice with similar backgrounds and experience levels, but do not expect Track 2 applicants to have a PhD.
  • It is important to be a resident of one of these countries for the duration of the Fellowship. Citizenship in these countries is not required.

For more information, visit re:constitution.