The Clingendael Institute of International Relations, the leading Dutch Think Tank on International Relations, is looking for several interns in their Conflict Research Unit for a six-month period from August 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021.

Each position occupies around 36 hours per week, and is rewarded with a stipend of up to €450 per month. Next to that, interns will have the opportunity to gain practical, policy oriented research experience in one of Europe’s top ranking think tanks, in close cooperation with our researchers and stakeholders as policy makers, academics and (international) organizations.

Applicants should be enrolled in a Masters Degree, have EER/Swiss nationality OR hold a Dutch study visa.

For more detailed information on the positions and requirements, please click on the title of each position, pr take a look at the vacancies on the Clingendael website.

Intern – Business and Peace, Horn of Africa

This internship focuses on local formal and informal economics in the Horn of Africa, with a particular focus on the economic dynamics underlying formal and informal institutions providing governance and stability, as well as individuals’ ability to establish a livelihood in such environment.

Job description:

• Research assistance for projects on the Horn of Africa of the informal economy by gathering quantitative and qualitative data and contributing to data analysis
• Contribute to writing background material, drafts, and web content.
• Contribute to the visualisation of research findings in the form of infographics and data dashboards.
• Assistance for the organization of (closed) events as part of research projects and for the dissemination of research findings.

Qualifications and experience

• BA degree relevant for this internship and current enrolment for MA degree (e.g. African studies, political science/IR, conflict studies, political economy).
• Affinity with politics and conflict dynamics in the Horn of Africa.
• Excellence in research and research methods, good English writing skills.
• Service minded, social skills, capable of reaching deadlines.
• Capable of working independently on the basis of instructions, team player.
• Network-oriented, feeling at home in international environment.

Intern – Governance and Conflict, Libya

This internship focuses on local formal and informal governance dynamics in Libya, with a particular focus on the connections between governance arrangements and non-state armed groups, traditional authorities and illicit networks.

Job description

• Research assistance for projects on Libya by gathering quantitative and qualitative data and contributing to data analysis
• Contribute to writing background material, drafts, and web content.
• Contribute to the visualisation of research findings in the form of infographics and data dashboards.
• Assistance for the organization of (closed) events as part of research projects and for the dissemination of research findings.

Qualifications and experience

• BA degree relevant for this internship and current enrolment for MA degree (e.g. Middle-Eastern or African studies, political science/IR, conflict studies).
• Fluent in Arabic, affinity with politics and conflict dynamics in Libya.
• Excellence in research and research methods, good English writing skills.
• Service minded, social skills, capable of reaching deadlines.
• Capable of working independently on the basis of instructions, team player.

Intern – Politics and Crime, Sahel

This internship focuses on the risk potential of natural resource-driven conflicts (access and management of water, land etc.) for political conflict and regional instability, as well as on local governance structures in the decentralised states in the Sahel.

Job description

The intern would provide research assistance for projects on radicalization and hybrid governance structures in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as part of a broader political economy analysis of the Sahel region.

• Conduct data collection and qualitative content analysis of different social media platforms, such as Twitter, Youtube, Facebook and relevant media outlets;
• Conduct quantitative data analysis;
• Conduct literature reviews;
• Support grant proposals;
• Contribute to writing background material, drafts, and web content;
• Provide assistance for the organization of (closed) events as part of research projects and for the dissemination of research findings.

Qualifications and experience

• BA degree relevant for this internship and current enrolment for MA degree (e.g. African studies, political science/IR, conflict studies);
• Fluent or mother tongue in French;
• Affinity with politics and conflict dynamics in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso;
• Background knowledge on political, conflict and/or radicalization dynamics in the Sahel;
• Excellence in research methods and (quantitative) data analysis, good English writing skills;
• Service minded, social skills, capable of reaching deadlines;
• Capable of working independently on the basis of instructions, team player;
• Network-oriented, feeling at home in international environment.

Intern – ‘Militancy and Political Orders’, Levant

This internship focuses on the influence of militancy on political orders in the Levant given the region’s current proliferation of coercive organisations, especially in Syria and Iraq. The research pays particular attention to hybrid coercive organisations, i.e. organisations that compete and collaborate with a country’s government at the same time.

Job description

• Assisting conflict- and actor research for the Levant program by gathering quantitative and qualitative data and contributing to data analysis.
• Drafting background material, research building blocks and web content.
• Supporting the organization of (closed) events as part of research projects and for the dissemination of research findings.
• Contributing to the visualisation of research findings in the form of infographics and data dashboards.

Apart from the internship supporting the typical variety of projects and research efforts already underway, the intern and his/her supervisor will identify one larger research task for the duration of the internship that can lead to an independent publication.

Qualifications and experience

• BA degree relevant for this internship and current enrolment for MA degree (e.g. Middle-Eastern studies, political science/IR, conflict studies, anthropology, journalism, religion).
• Able to read Arabic and English for professional purposes, as well as good English writing skills. The ability to read Kurdish, Hebrew and/or Farsi is an asset.
• Affinity with politics and conflict dynamics in the Levant.
• Excellence in research and research methods
• Service minded, social skills, capable of reaching deadlines.
• Capable of working independently on the basis of instructions, team player.
• Network-oriented, feeling at home in international environment.