As part of the project “Small-State Statecraft and Realignment” funded by the Carnegie Foundation, the Center for International Relations at Freie Universität Berlin is offering freelance work contracts (Werkverträge). The project examines the extent to which the strategic alignment of small and medium-sized states with larger powers (USA, Russia, and China, or for non-EU states: also the EU) has changed over time (2000-2025). The focus here is on security and economic policy as well as socio-cultural and general political orientations and changes over time. Is a smaller state constantly oriented towards just one major power ('stayer'), towards different powers for different policy areas/objects ('hedger') or does the state change its alignments over time ('switcher')? What are the reasons behind the chosen alignment strategy or the change of strategy?

Content of the assignment/deliverable: Conducting independent research concerning a country (academic secondary literature, databases, LexisNexis newspaper reports) and completion of a template including complete and correct and complete citations/sources
Remuneration per work: Flat rate of 700€ (~15-20 hours of work)
Scope of the work to be delivered: 10-15 pages (completed template of the (re-)alignment of a state incl. tables and cited literature/complete list of used sources)
Language of the work to be delivered: English
Deadline for deliverables: either August 15th, 2025 or October 15th, 2025

Application documents: Cover letter, CV and list of courses/assignments taken and grades (alternatively: academic degrees). The cover letter should indicate what language and research skills you have, how many countries you would like to cover and what your preferences would be. You should also indicate which of the deadlines you would like to submit your work by (deadline is then binding). Application deadline: June 5th 2025

Please send your complete application to AIB@polsoz.fu-berlin.de. Interviews and the introductory information session (30 minutes) will take place online.

List of countries to be covered (one contract per state): Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Cyprus Estonia Latvia Lithuania Montenegro North Macedonia Serbia Slovenia Austria Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Portugal San Marino Spain Sweden Switzerland