Old Comparative Job Rumors
Try to keep this blog for job rumors only. If you want to have a discussion on a topic that isn't related to jobs, let me know and I will start a new thread.
posted by American and Comparative Politics Job Blog at 7/28/2007 04:07:00 AM
644 Comments:
Thanks for opening the new threads. Hopefully people will remain on topic now.
Are there any rumors about schools looking for senior Europeanists?
Seems like the only areas in fashion are South (East) Asia, China & Japan, and the Middle East.
A letter has gone out from Cal Poly Pomona for a CP hire, and states that they'll be replacing their entire CP faculty (retirement) over the next few years.
CGU will be hiring in CP/IR
CGU?
Claremont Graduate University, I believe (at least that's what www.cgu.edu brings up).
CGU -- THE place to be, assuming you're a member of the Federalist Society (or want to be). Intellectual tenor of the place can be gaged by Googling "Claremont Review of Books."
Source: Me -- I labored in the Consortium as the token "liberal" (I once voted for Clinton, thus "liberal") for several years.
Now you know what the token conservative feels like in 99% of Departments where s/he is the only one!
Info on schools likely to be hiring that haven't yet advertised in e-jobs?
Of course, that's the key isn't it? I'm not a liberal -- I always was the token conservative. But having voted for Clinton ONCE was sufficient, in the domain of "Claremont Conservatism," to brand me as a liberal. The infatuation that many of the CGU and Claremont McKenna faculty have with Scalia, for example, or the way they fetishize the Federalist Papers, was too much for me in the end. Big Midwestern Liberal U was, ironically, a more comfortable fit. So for those who apply, you should know what you're getting into.
Michigan is looking for two: Japan & China. One is obviously to replace Gallagher, who has bolted for Cornell.
They desperately need a Russian specialist to fill the void left by Zimmerman's retirement, but no sign of that as of yet.
When an area is in fashion, does this also mean that the ratio of positions to area specialists is high?
On a related note, are there many Southeast Asianists out there this year?
Griffith University is looking to fill one or more three-year research
post-doctoral fellowships in International Relations/Comparative
Politics.
The fellowship positions are research-only with no teaching
responsibilities. The salary range is Australian $61,978 to $70,136
(US$52,000-59,000). Successful candidates will be expected both to
publish
with the leading journals and presses in the field, as well as conduct
policy-relevant research with a focus on any of the following: weak
states, failed states, institutional strengthening and/or transnational
security threats. The empirical focus of this policy-oriented research
will be the Asia-Pacific region. The selection committee is open to
those
with expertise in other regions as long as these candidates are willing
to
acquire expertise on the Asia-Pacific.
Successful candidates must have a doctorate in Political Science or
related field, a track record of publication with leading presses
and/or
journals, and potential for continuing to publish at this level. It is
desirable though not essential that candidates have some policy
experience. The committee is open to all methodological backgrounds,
but
in all cases candidates much be able to communicate relevant findings
to
policy-makers as well as academic audiences.
Although the positions are fixed-term, post-doctoral fellows should
subsequently be in a strong position to apply for permanent positions
at
Griffith University.
Fellows will be housed jointly at the Griffith Asia Institute and the
Centre for Governance and Public Policy.
For further information applicants should contact Jason Sharman,
Centre for Governance and Public Policy & Griffith Asia Institute
Griffith University
170 Kessels Rd
Nathan, QLD 4111
Australia
Tel: +61 7 3735 6756
Fax: +61 7 3735 7737
Email: j.sharman@griffith.edu.au
5:59 raises an interesting point-- why does it seem that Russia/Eurasia specialists aren't being explicitly replaced? This year, I've only seen one eJobs listing explicitly looking for a Russia person (Washington), while last year there were only two such listings (Kansas and Wisconsin-Whitewater). Compare with the dozens of listings for East Asia, Africa, or Middle Eastern specialists. Is this a generational thing, or a shifting focus thing?
Both.
Russia is increasingly no longer seen as one of the those single countries whose specialists are needed (in fact, very few beyond China nd the US are really left). Most Russia/former USSR specialists would be grouped as Eastern Europeanists. This category too is increasingly being subsumed within a broader "Europe" category.
As for why East Asia, Africa, and Middle East are hot, take a look at how many slots there have been historically for these regions and compare that with Europe. These parts of the world have a lot of catching up to do. Think also about where the global "action" is in politics and you'll find a pretty good match.
As for SE Asia: yes, the ratio of slots to candidates is VERY high even though there are few slots!
>>Russia is increasingly no longer seen as one of the those single countries whose specialists are needed (in fact, very few beyond China nd the US are really left)...
If there is such abysmally low demand for Russia/Eurasia specialists, what is your advice for newly-minted PhDs with the specialization in the region? How can they increase the odds of finding a TT job in the USA?
lots of "soviet" specialists became "russian" or "former soviet country" specialists and are now "ethnic conflict" people. I think it depends on your interests - IPE? Trade? Power relationships? - there are lots of things to "be" - I mean - what ABOUT russia are you into?
BYU, an equal opportunity employer, requires all faculty to observe the university’s honor code and dress and grooming standards. Preference is given to qualified members in good standing of the affiliated church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Can one be EOE and give preference to a religious group?
Oh, and the reference to "grooming standards" simply cracks me up.
As if the normal demands of TT aren't enough...
"As a matter of personal commitment, faculty, staff, and students ... seek to demonstrate in daily living on and off campus those moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and will:
* Be honest
* Live a chaste and virtuous life
* Obey the law and all campus policies
* Use clean language
* Respect others
* Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
* Participate regularly in church services
* Observe dress and grooming standards
* Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.
The Dress and Grooming Standards are as follows:
Men: A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles or colors and trimmed above the collar leaving the ear uncovered. Sideburns should not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed and may not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth. Men are expected to be clean shaven; beards are not acceptable. Earrings and other body piercing are not acceptable. Shoes should be worn in all public campus areas .
Women: A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Clothing is inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, or revealing; has slits above the knee; or is form fitting. Dresses and skirts must be knee length or longer. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles and colors. Excessive ear piercing (more than one per ear) and all other body piercing are not acceptable. Shoes should be worn in all public campus areas
Interestingly, Brigham Young himself would not have fit in at BYU.
http://partridge.parkinsonfamily.org/photos-brigham.htm
OK, this is even funnier than I initially thought.
If those pictures are any indication, the LDS position on facial hair has evolved over time. Of course, that's not the only position that has changed since Brigham Young's day...
All the other policies I could live with.
But abstain from coffee and tea?
Heresy!!!
The EEOA allows religious institutions to favor believers over non-believers, and even exclude non-believers entirely, provided they do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or other protected categories.
So I guess my Prince Albert is right out, then...
Any gay or lesbian job candidates who are believers (and very well groomed) willing to apply? That could make for an interesting visit.
I suggest as an opening question: What's your institution's policy on benefits for same-sex partners?
8/14/2007 9:02 AM: "I've only seen one eJobs listing explicitly looking for a Russia person (Washington), while last year there were only two such listings (Kansas and Wisconsin-Whitewater)."
The fields not quite as dry as you seem to think - last year there were additional openings for post-communist positions (which obviously covers Russia). Two come to mind now - UW (post-communist security) and Tufts. Cornell also advertised for a Central (as well as other parts of) Asia person - and is doing so again this year.
Having given a talk at BYU several years ago, I must say I was very impressed with the department. Very lively, international group. It's also in an absolutely beautiful spot. If I were Mormon, I would be thrilled with a BYU post.
Salt Lake City is gorgeous, and the department at BYU is quite good. I agree with 7:32. If I were a Mormon, I go there in a second. Alas, I'm not, and my religious outlook would probably get me burned at the stake there. Call me crazy, but this turns out to be a deal-breaker.
On that front, and on the grooming front too (I have a beard), call me crazy too.
Wait, maybe it's them who are crazy?!
Dreaming is free... so I'll ask.
What if anything is Princeton looking for in Comparative? Any indication on preference in terms of rank, specialty, etc?
The Division of Political Studies at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City is soliciting applications for a tenure-track position in the field of comparative politics at the assistant professor level, with the appointment to begin in Fall semester 2008. CIDE is a public research institution in the social sciences. The Division of Political Studies currently employs fifteen professors and specializes in the study of parties and party systems, political institutions, executive-legislative relations, judiciaries, democratization processes, comparative political economy, and political philosophy and the history of political thought. The minimal teaching requirement is two courses per year. Salaries are in Mexican pesos and competitive with those in the United States. Candidates are invited to visit www.cide.edu to learn more about CIDE and the Division of Political Studies.
The successful candidate should work on topics relevant to comparative politics and must demonstrate strong theoretical skills and research methods. The candidates current and future research should also be relevant to the study of Mexico. The candidate is expected to publish in leading academic presses and journals in his/her area of specialization and must have the Ph.D. in hand by the time of appointment. CIDEs language of business is Spanish and the candidate must demonstrate sufficient Spanish language competence or interest in learning Spanish to be able to give courses in Spanish within one year of appointment.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter explaining their research and teaching interests, a curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, a transcript, copies of published articles or working papers, and teaching evaluations (if available).
All application materials, in hardcopy, should be sent to: Dr. Allyson Benton, Chair, Search Committee, Divisin de Estudios Polticos, CIDE, Carretera Mxico-Toluca 3655, Mxico, D.F., MEXICO 01210. Email: allyson.benton@cide.edu (for questions only). We will begin reviewing applications on October 1, 2007.
what's the deal with these "comparative environmental politics" jobs advertised in the past days? is there *anyone* working on the topic? it sounds like a fashionable sub-sub-field, but a non-existing one in terms of people engaged in it...
Dude(tte), it's even worse with the Middle Eastern Politics jobs. A gazillion jobs, and but a trickle of decent candidates.
The way Deans think, and the arguments in their utility function... sooooo different.
I'd ask about Tufts' record in tenuring people before applying there. It sounds like Miami w/o the publicity.
Do tell more.
Princeton will be looking for assistants that are: pedigreed, connected people with methodologically strong training. Pedigreed = grad AND undergrad. Connected = letter writers & diss chair/committee with strong princeton and or harvard connections. Methodologically strong means quant or formal. If you think this is inaccurate look at every newly minted PhD they've hired over the last 10 years
Don't exaggerate. Some don't have an undergraduate degree from a terribly prestigious place, i.e. Kris Ramsay.
Sure, they want what every top 5 place wants. Smart, well trained, interesting puzzle, good letters, etc.
Does anyone know whatever happened to the possibly-moving senior civil war people (Petersen, Walter, Sambanis)?
Walter is staying put at UCSD (husband got tenure).
Re: "Comparative environmental politics."
Actually, I do some work in comparative environmental politics, which is very frustrating work, since it is not the kind of thing that easily gets into any sort of mainstream political science publication, since most seem to agree that it is more of a "niche" area. Unfortunately, I haven't seen this myriad of job postings of which you speak. Guess I'll have to tweak my eJobs search.
Not a myriad in my count, but a handful.
And a handful is more than most of us (say, Latin America or Russia or...) get.
re princeton - a few have 2nd tier undergrad, but mainly they are from Berk, Harvard etc. The connections are key - even more so than the famous "interesting puzzle" - a puzzle is interesting if you like the candidate and boring if you don't
Sambanis got tenure at Yale and is staying there.
re:
I was a newly minted PhD. who was hired by Princeton within the last 10 years, and I don't meet all your criteria. Connections are not everything. Sometimes, it's what you know, not who you know.
And 8/16/2007 2:27 PM, I believe that you have your direction of causality backwards.
Please. who looks at undergraduate degrees when evaluating job candidates? As someone else said, Princeton's about like any other top-5 department in who and what it looks for. I'd be surprised if interview and offer lists look significantly different on any relevant dimensions.
I agree with 2:27 - whether you find someone's dissertation interesting (I think the "puzzle" word is annoying) is undoubtedly framed by your assesment of the candidate - every dissertation is interesting and boring - depends on who reads it. You don't assess the puzzle until you've already assessed the candidate. To think otherwise is disingenuous
There are a lot of interesting looking dissertation abstracts that turn out to be not so interesting in execution. I've looked at hundreds of files, and I have to say I start reading a lot of dissertation chapters with high hopes based on letters and c.v.'s and then have to update my impression of the file based on the actual chapters. More significant, I think, is that methodological and theoretical preconceptions frame what counts as an interesting dissertation and thus an interesting candidate.
For comparative environmental politics, look at environmental programs (e.g the Nicholas school) or public policy schools. Maryland also has a strong environmental politics program.
"a puzzle is interesting if you like the candidate and boring if you don't"
No wonder you're not at Princeton.
Add Davis to the list of comparative environmental. Deans are currently totally infatuated with the idea of inter-disciplinary, cross-disciplinary and -- just heard this the other day -- "trans-disciplinary" programs. This is being driven by the funding sources, both the National Science Foundation and the various private large private foundations. "Silos and stovepipes" -- advancing ones career by specializing narrowly within a single field or sub-field -- is out, as far as the Deans are concerned. Departments will, of course, fight this tooth and nail, sometimes winning, sometimes not.
I have yet to see a Department fight a Dean and win.
Which might explain why I have yet to see a Dept fight a Dean.
2:02 - um, you assume I'm not at Princeton. I just told you the process - others acted like I said something negative. Think about the list of things and you will see that it maximizes the chances of a good candidate. I was taken aback that so many academics totally discounted the value of a quality undergraduate experience. If you think a dissertation question is uninteresting, it has more to do with your limitation on interests than with the dissertation. I have no interests in "gray water" use, but no doubt there are some fine dissertations on the political issue of water recycling. That I find it boring is a statement about my preferences not the dissertation
I, for one, DO form an impression of a candidates based in part on their undergraduate education. Who doesn't? It's not a terribly important part of the calculus, but it does tell me something about their academic background and who they are. Anything helps!
Since undergrad education is a whole different ballgame that grad school and academia, I wouldn't think it helps much -- unless perhaps you're hiring at a liberal arts college and you're thinking someone who went to such an institution understands the culture better. But as someone who did not go to the kind of undergraduate institution that provides the pedigree that the original poster worried over and who by most measures has had a successful academic career nonetheless, I certainly would have appreciated being evaluated on the basis of my professional training and accomplishments when I hit the market. Heck, why not look at what prep school they attended while we're at it. At some point, there's better information available -- and I would have thought by the end of grad school and with dissertation chapters in hand we had reached that point.
Agreed, and I think that's how most committees see it.
However, the undergrad experience just tells us (or at least me) a bit more about who the person is, their previous intellectual experiences, early accomplishments, etc.. Those are formative, to some extent.
Jack Knight is staying at Washington University
The undergraduate experience is much more indicative of family resources and class status than most would like to admit. I find it disappointing that those who have already overcome the disadvantage of getting a non-Ivy education face a further disadvantage, regardless of how much they've overcome and accomplished.
I agree with 8/18/2007 3:19 PM.
Academia does not draw from the lower classes, for a variety of reasons. The vast majority of academics spring from the middle class, for whom an ivy league education is not a matter of "can I afford it" so much as "can I get in." I speak as one who came from lower middle class ranks and would have attended and afforded (probably with some loans and financial aid) an Ivy if any had seen fit to admit me! It may have been about class years ago, but it's not so much now, IMHO.
It is also unjust that ivy league phds can get jobs without pubs, while those coming from a non top 20 program with publications and an active research agenda end up on the market for years. Worse some end up in crappy LACs.
I disagree with you, 8/18/2007 7:40 PM.
I am the first-generation in my family to go to college and went to a high school where the drop out rate exceeded 20%. (And no, I do not qualify for affirmative action programs.) There are a handful of political scientists that I know with backgrounds like mine. And we (those that I've discussed this with) all feel our class roots profoundly when surrounded by many of our colleagues (and some of us have ended up in high places).
Financial aid wasn't enough to get most working class kids through an Ivy, even if you got in (as I did...I ended up in a State school). (Though new initiatives are changing this some.) Then, there are lots of working class kids that don't have the social capital or even encouragement to apply to the Ivies. And lets not even talk about bias in the SATs/ACTs.
So if anyone thinks class doesn't make a difference any more, they're delusional.
Sorry for the digression. Back to rumors. And how the Ivies *may* like to [keep out the rifraff by excluding] screen candidates without an undergrad pedigree.
My sense -- and I'd be curious to see real data -- is that new initiatives at Ivies have changed this considerably over the last 30 years. If you are working class and have good numbers, you have a good shot at a decent financial package. The result may not as cheap as State U, but with loans it makes Yale-Harvard-Princeton a reality for most.
Can people play out there anxieties somewhere else? Please?
Things may be getting better, and I suppose we might bear that in mind in 2018, when those just admitted to college have finished grad school, and maybe a postdoc.
They weren't better when I was in college. I left a prestige school when they cut my financial legs out from under me - having promised a large, generous package to entice me to accept their enrollment offer, they then cut it by more than two-thirds, IIRC, for my soph year. Moreover, when I left, the admin was making news for actively debating whether to end need-blind admissions. Yet this school still finds the resources to pester me every year to make a donation to it . . . Words fail. And I'm usually pretty d@mn good at them :-)
My Ivy, on the other hand, gave me a financial aid package, which included a hundred-dollar-a-year parent contribution and a stipend to buy books every term on top of tuition, room and board. And I got out with less than 15,000$ in loans. And that was back in the early 1990s, before all the major initiative... And I know I'm not the only one who got this package...
Amazing how people are able to always go offtopic! :-(
In a naive attempt to talk about comparative job rumors at a non-Ivy school, does anyone have some background information about the UMass Hiring Initiative? The are hiring some 9 people in 2 years!
UMass, at least historically, has tended to hire qualitative, area study, critical studies, etc. kind of people. Good news for some, bad news for others.
The Department of Political Science at the University of Kansas invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Middle East Politics beginning August 18, 2008, January 1, 2009, or negotiable. Specific research interests are open, and could include political behavior within or between one or more Middle Eastern or North African states. Candidates are expected to have done significant fieldwork in the region, as well as having language and methodological training appropriate to the focus of their research. The University is designated a Title VI National Resource Center in African Studies. Salary is competitive with those at other research universities. Applicants must have a Ph.D., ABD, or terminal degree in Political Science or a related discipline by start date of appointment. Ph.D. is required within 12 months of the appointment start date; for full position description, see: http://www2.ku.edu/~clas/employment/. A letter of interest (including explanations of academic training and current research agenda), vitae, graduate transcripts, selected publications/papers, teaching portfolio (with evaluations, or summaries), and three letters of reference should be sent to: Professor Hannah Britton, Department of Political Science, University of Kansas, 1541 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044. (785) 864-9016. Initial review of applications begins October 22, 2007 and will continue until the position is filled. EO/AA Employer.
Ah, yet another search in Middle East.
I am confused. As some poster said, shouldn't a highly strategic Dean of a so-so university realize they simply have a very low probability of attracting a top scholar in "the" hot field of the season (currently, Middle East). Shouldn't a dean realize they would have a much better shot at making unusually strong hires (they kind that help propel a so-so school up) in fields that, though not the flavor or the month, will remain important irrespective of current events.
What am I missing? Why Deans, Chairs, etc. keep going after the unattainable? (Unless you are willing to hire an ostensibly mediocre scholar, simply so you can trumpet that you hired someone who works on whatever is currently hot?)
Confused graduate student who thinks she's probably missing something.
The position is a replacement for a faculty member in that specialty who died a year ago at age 50. The timing of that occurrence was not adjusted for market conditions.
As noted in the ad, the "so-so university" is one of only 11 in the country with Title VI funding in African Studies, and has hired several people in recent years in cognate disciplines who specialize in North Africa.
Finally, Kansas probably won't insist on candidates having had a $30K/year undergraduate education, which should expand their pool of candidates, with little or no impact on the quality thereof (IMHO).
another thing the confused graduate student is overlooking is that often deans and departments hiring choices are driven by the question "will this hire meet enrollment demands?" rather than "will this hire make a marginal difference in the graduate school ranking?"
On the topic of Middle East specialists, one should also remember that this year's job market candidates are the first group that applied to grad. schools after Sept. 11, 2001. I remember quite clearly that my school had a spike of applicants who wished to study the Middle East that year (of course, this has not translated into a surplus of Middle Eastern specialists from our school on the job market, but this is probably for idiosyncratic reasons). Perhaps this year, there really will be a large number of Middle East specialists on the market.
Anonymous said...
UMass, at least historically, has tended to hire qualitative, area study, critical studies, etc. kind of people. Good news for some, bad news for others.
8/19/2007 8:22 AM
----------------
That explains why they hope to attract some people who can teach quantitative methods at the graduate level.
But can anyone explain why they have been allowed to make so many hires in such a short period?
"fields that, though not the flavor or the month, will remain important irrespective of current events."
Umm, the Middle East has been kind of important for at least, say, half a century now (oil, wars, religion, revolutions, etc). . . not to mention all that trivial history stretching for a few thousand years beforehand (Jesus, Mohammed, who cares!. But, surely not as important as another dissertation on Scandinavian wage bargaining or formal model of angels trying to form congressional subcommittees on the head of a pin.
Middle East and South Asia, IMHO, have remarkably few faculty in political science considering their size, importance, variety of topics available for study, etc.
But can anyone explain why they have been allowed to make so many hires in such a short period?
The Dept was/is small to begin with, so I'd bet it's in part a 'correction'. And you can probably point to a bunch of things coming together. Like: (1) public institution coming out of an early 00s hiring freeze and filling 'old' vacancies; (2) probably some new money from the state on top of that (poke around the website and you'll find a plan to increase regular TT faculty by 250), (3) increased departmental allocation as a result of increasing undergraduate enrollment might be coming into play. Any number of things.
Can't speak to the specifics but, at any rate, more job openings aren't a bad thing . . . unless you're on the other side, serving on multiple SCs.
Where are all the South Asia positions this year? It seems like there were a dozen or so last year (American, Georgetown, UWash, Notre Dame, come to mind) but so far the postings have been thin. Will more open up?
I really don't get this "undergraduate pedigree" thing. I barely register undergraduate institutions on job applications, and there are plenty of people at top schools without top-tier BAs. I think the more important pattern is this: at all levels, degrees--and letters--serve as ways of reducing information uncertainty; they're proxies for quality, if not necessarily great ones. So a BA degree from Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Berkeley, Stanford, etc. increases the chances of a PhD from Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Berkeley, Stanford, etc. which, at certain "tiers" of the academic job market also enhances the chances of making it out of what publishers call the "slush" pile. That's all. And these effects decrease with other, better, information derived from track record in actual academic performance.
Anyway, back to the rumors.
A naive question here. What countries are considered South Asia? Is it just India/Pakistan/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka or does it also include countries to the east too?
Just my two cents, but I would call Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and maybe Afghanistan (though it's hard to compare Afghanistan to much else at the moment). That group of countries has a common heritage of British colonization, resulting in (at one time) roughly similar institutions.
Reductio ad imperium?
Afghanistan's kind of stuck in the middle (could be Central Asia), but especially since 1979 it's been pretty inextricably bound up to South Asia via India and Pakistan's various stratagems inside it, though obviously affected by the Middle East to a great degree.
Michigan's new faculty now listed:
http://polisci.lsa.umich.edu/
faculty/facultyAlpha.html
Funny how Tsebelis is no longer listed at UCLA whereas Koremenos (who left long ago) is.
Probably no great meaning there -other than random webpage maintenance.
Regarding UMass's hiring intiative... And hopefully someone from UMass can confirm this. My understanding from alums is that, after years of hiring freezes that were the result of terrible budget problems in the state, the department is now rebuilding. And they're trying to do it quickly in part because they have more retirements on the horizon. The department is turning over generationally.
It seems to be something that is happening more generally at UMass (see also all the hiring that is happening in Legal Studies there). I've heard rumors of another hire in that department this year as well.
I also think that the political science department did not succeed in hiring in all five of their slots last year, though I think they did manage 3 or 4 of the 5. So, this is partly a continuation of last year's hiring initative.
Who did they hire last year?
Who did anyone and everyone hire last year? Answer here: http://wikihost.org/wikis/polsci0607/wiki/start
In comparative, UMass hired Schwedler (from Maryland) and Amel Ahmed. Not sure about other subfields.
Any chance some generous soul will open a 07-08 jobs wiki soon?
Yes, I also noticed that part of the senior faculty at UMass is quite old and approaching retirement. Sounds like an interesting development, particularly because they don't seem to follow the throdden path of quantitative-formal.
UMass hired Iza Hussin, a graduate student from the University of Washington. She'll be starting there in the fall of 2008.
Did Cornell advertise comparative positions for fall 2008? I heard they had but couldn't find anything on their website.
check on e-jobs
I don't have access to eJobs. Thanks, though.
no offense but... are you on the job market without access to e-jobs?
Back to the comment about 9-11 and and applicants for jobs on the Middle-East/Islamic world: As someone who applied to Ph.D. programs that fall and started my Ph.D. in the fall of 2002, I think it's unlikely that any surge has hit the market yet and it's effects, if any, won't likely to be felt for several more years. As someone currently in the middle of fieldwork (elsewhere in the world), I think very few people are likely to complete the language training and rigorous fieldwork necessary to be competitive in 5 or even 6 years. Furthermore, 9-11 was unlikely to cause individuals to make snap decisions over the course of 3 months about whether to apply to Ph.D. programs and what area to focus on. My entering cohort of 20 in Fall 2002 had one person focusing on the middle east, and that individual came from that part of the world.
8/18/2007 8:34 PM wrote, "I am the first-generation in my family to go to college and went to a high school where the drop out rate exceeded 20%. (And no, I do not qualify for affirmative action programs.) There are a handful of political scientists that I know with backgrounds like mine. And we (those that I've discussed this with) all feel our class roots profoundly when surrounded by many of our colleagues (and some of us have ended up in high places)."
-------------
Thanks for expressing that, 8:34. I'm a grad student at a good program, and haven't ever discussed how profoundly I feel this with my peers, for the simple reason that none of them have a similar background. They are the very same "middle class" children of doctors, lawyers, and professors who assert that class no longer matters.
Why did Schwedler leave Maryland for UMass? Seems like an odd move.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY COMPARATIVE POLITICS The Department of Government at Cornell University invites applications for 2 positions from recent and prospective PhDs with research and teaching interests in Comparative Politics. We are particularly interested in candidates who seek to address questions of broad theoretical interest and who are grounded in a specific area (including cross-regional expertise). Areas of substantive and theoretical interest are open for both positions, though we have particular interest in applicants with expertise in the politics of Asia (including Southeast, but also Northeast and Central Asia). The appointments will commence on July 1, 2008. Applicants should submit a cover letter, statement of research and teaching interests, CV, 3 letters of reference, one writing sample, and any other relevant materials to: Search Committee, Comparative Politics Search, Department of Government, 214 White Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853-7901. Deadline for receipt of applications is October 5, 2007. Cornell is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educator, and we strongly encourage applications from women and minority candidates.
One of the problems of affirmative action, in my opinion, is that it has in fact decreased the variation in the SES background of our applicants. (At least in my department).
Koremenos was promoted by UCLA to Associate with tenure effective July 2006 (2006) per departmental announcement. Presumably she's either going back to L.A. or that's a gambit to get her to go back to L.A.
Schwedler's tenure case, while ultimately successful, was handled in a very inept and insulting manner at both the departmental and university level. Maryland to UMass seems like a lateral move at worst, and with all of the much-discussed new investment at UMass, is probably a very smart move.
@ 8/20/2007 11:22
No offense taken. I'm not on the job market. But if I was, eJobs would be of little value to me. I'm not in the US.
@ 8/21/2007 4:29
Thanks for posting the ad!
Koremenos tenure case was a long battle (initially turned down, appeals, etc).
Now that both Koremenos and her partner are gone from UCLA, I doubt they will return. Lots of unhappiness on all sides I hear.
"Koremenos was promoted by UCLA to Associate with tenure effective July 2006 (2006) per departmental announcement."
You mean 2007, right?
No problem, 8/21/2007 3:21 AM.
I recommend this book.
Is Northwestern hiring in Comparative?
RE: Is Northwestern hiring in Comparative?
8/21/2007 11:39 AM
not quite...
As part of a broad initiative to build strength in the study of the modern Middle East (involving also the departments of anthropology and history), the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University invites applications in an open-rank search for a tenured or tenure-track position in Middle Eastern politics beginning in September 2008. Field of specialization open. Teaching will include undergraduate courses on the modern Middle East as well as upper-level courses and graduate tutorials or courses in the area of specialty. PhD in hand preferred. Candidates should demonstrate the promise of excellence in scholarship and teaching. Please send letter of application, CV, three letters of recommendation (non-tenured applicants only), and a writing sample by October 1, 2007, to Middle East Search Committee, Department Of Political Science, Northwestern University, Scott Hall, 601 University Place, Evanston, Illinois 60208-1006. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. AA/EOE.
The Middle East hiring (or at least searching) spree goes on...
8/21 08:16 -- no, it means 2006 bold face italic underscore 2006 per the departmental announcement.
Does anyone have any insights on the Dubai School of Government searches?
Not unlike BYU, not apt (sadly) for the LGB community.
I do wonder if they have some official grooming standards though.
Iza Hussein was hired in Legal Studies at UMass, not Political Science -- different department entirely. So she wasn't part of the grand initiative. And though trained as a political science, her work is very interdisciplinary (and thus a good fit in in their law and society program).
I read the above back and forth conversation about comparative environmental politics jobs. What exactly is meant by comparative environmental politics? What are some of the research questions and puzzles people in that area are studying? Thanks.
What exactly is meant by comparative environmental politics?
----------------------------
it is probably something like the political economy of regulation, only poorly done and with an ideological bent.
Comparative environmental politics, includes work like Sarah Pralle's new book about agenda setting -- why do environmental groups with similar goals manage to set the agenda in one institutional and political setting, but not in another?
And there are other questions: what is the difference in movement structures and state responses to, for example, environmental justice claims? For the comparative law specialists, the importance of various litigation strategies in different settings and how the movements make use of courts, administrative tribunals, etc., to have demands heard... And so on.
And then, of course, there's the intersection with international environmental policy: how do epistemic communities shape environmental policy on the international level? And for the comparativists, how do individual states respond?
And so on -- just a few examples. It's really quite an interesting area, though perhaps not huge; and it's not really usually separated out as the ad referenced here has it... Although, you do see environmental law and environmental politics popping up here and there in ads in situations where either a department has a longstanding strength and is trying to fill a hole made from a retirement or a move; and in situations where a campus has received money for an environmental initiative, and some Dean has thought it wise to add someone in who can talk policy and/or institutions.
``epistemic communities''
any scholarship that uses expressions like this is total b.s.
re. 8/23 9:14am:
No, *your* scholarship is total b.s.
No, it's *your* scholarship that's total b.s.
No, your scholarship.
No, yours.
Ahh, this is why I came to academia. The intellectual curiosity and sophistication.
LOL! :-)
Yes, indeed, let's try to keep the level of discussion at a level of 18+.
It is indeed remarkable that there are several jobs in such a small sub-subfield, but then again, Al Gore does get a lot of attention in academic circles. ;-) And one shouldn't forget that CPE was a rather marginal field a couple of decade ago too.
anyone have any insight on the new Colorado State listing? It's a beautiful place, but is it a good gig?
Actually, when I think of comparative environmental politics, I think of the Global Environmental Accord series put out by MIT press, incl. Erika Weinthal's 'State Making and Environmental Cooperation,' Robert Darst's 'Smokestack Diplomacy,' and even *gasp* the works by Keohane and Levy et al. on 'Institutions for Environmental Aid.'
I think of "Corporate Power and the Environment"
....if only we could get the author to blog on his perspective on the field.
Perhaps some of these comparative environmental politics jobs are popping up due to undergraduate course demand. Just like the Middle East, the environment is popular in the media at present (and for years to come) so students are naturally interested in taking these courses.
I added an environmental politics module to the intro to world politics courses I get asked to teach from time-to-time. I use over-fishing, rural-to-urban migration, and desertification to illustrate the collective-action problems inherent in environmental change. We talk about the need to coordinate environmental policies, etc., if they are to have any substantive impact on problems of global climate change.
I image the sub-field is somewhat similar.
John R. Reitemeyer Chair. The Department of Political Science at Trinity College seeks a senior scholar to fill the Reitemeyer Chair in Comparative Politics. Candidates should have an outstanding publication record and demonstrated excellence in teaching. Trinity is a highly selective, independent liberal arts college; the Reitemeyer Chair is one of the College’s most prestigious endowed positions. Applications from advanced associate and full professors will be considered, with appointment to begin in fall 2008. Teaching load is 2/2. Competitive salary and benefits, plus a research fund. Trinity College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women and minority candidates. Please send application materials, including curriculum vitae, a recent publication, and list of references, to: Chair, Reitemeyer Search Committee, Department of Political Science, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106. To ensure full consideration, applicants should submit their files by September 28, 2007.
I assume that Mark Franklin no longer holds that chair then?
Can anyone share background on the U of Chicago job for a position in historical or interpretive methods? The ad reads: The position is open with respect to specialty, but those adopting a historical perspective or employing interpretive methods are particularly encouraged to apply. We also welcome applications from scholars doing historically informed and/or interpretively innovative work on politics in other disciplines.
Is this an inside search? Part of a University initiative? Does the work really need to be "interpretive," or would someone who does comparative historical work for purposes of making causal inferences (and who runs the occasional regression) be in running, too?
Anyone know what WashU is looking for in their CP post?
Mark Franklin now has a chair at EUI.
I am very good at interpreting my models' coefficients.
Do you think I have a shot?
Did Diana Evans leave Trinity too?
Re: Chicago Historical/Interpretvie
o Is this an inside search? No
o Part of a University initiative? No
o Does the work really need to be "interpretive," or would someone who does comparative historical work for purposes of making causal inferences (and who runs the occasional regression) be in running, too? You may as well apply. I read this ad as U of C looking for someone to replace Bill Sewell. Chicago also has an open search; perhaps that search will better suit your application.
Lisa Wedeen is now tenured and the chair at Chicago. Perhaps there is a relationship between her assuming the chairwomanship and the junior interpretive methods search. This is pure speculation, however, since I have no inside information.
Anyone heard about Southern Methodist University looking in Comparative?
Nope, but truth be told you couldn't pay me enough to go to SMU.
I am sure many people will be very interested in them though.
Which is great, as it's all about fit and ending up at the right institution given one's preferences.
Assume that when Chicago says "interpretive" they really, really mean it.
Reading skills, people, reading skills. Once more:
The position is open with respect to specialty, but those adopting a historical perspective or employing interpretive methods are particularly encouraged to apply.
"Or" generally indicates an alternative.
Regarding SMU searching in comparative, I have learned that they will be searching to fill:
"a position in East Asian and Comparative Politics at SMU, with some emphasisalthough not exclusiveon Japan. The position is quite attractive, in part because of the research and program funds that are attached to it through the Tower Center’s Japan Program".
"Assume that when Chicago says 'interpretive' they really, really mean it."
Why? From what I can glean from the faculty webpage, (http://political-science.uchicago.edu/faculty.shtml) they have one person on their current faculty that does interpretive work (Wedeen) out of about 30.
that's exactly the reason why... they are trying to reduce that inequality
Cute. Now people are wasting their time over the specific wording of ads.
Hey, I don't see any waste of time... besides, that's what interpretative methods is all about isn't it?
Comparative Politics Job at University of Missouri-Kansas City
We will be advertising a position in comparative politics, open to research area. Our teaching load is 2-2. We have a preference for an advanced assistant. We will be at APSA and available to meet with prospective candidates on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you would like to meet with us, please email your CV and your availability at the conference to millerel@umkc.edu.
Thanks!
Beth Miller
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Anonymous said...
anyone have any insight on the new Colorado State listing? It's a beautiful place, but is it a good gig?
8/23/2007 11:42 AM
That is a replacement line for Kathy Hochstetler--she left for the University of New Mexico.
About all I can tell you is that CSU is a Carnegie RU/VH that is hiring three lines this year, that they are quickly turning from an old department to a young one, and that Fort Collins is a lovely, lovely place.
After that I have no insight.
I think a good informational bit about Colorado State is that someone just left for UNM.
Hochstetler left to run the UNM Latin American program.
re: UCLA web site, Koremenos is still technically on the faculty, hence her continued inclusion in their web site.
Wow, some people accumulate several jobs in top ten departments!
The Women’s Studies Program at the University of Kansas invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Global Feminism expected to begin August 18, 2008. Within the field of global feminism, fields of interest include but are not limited to global feminist theories, international relations, international trade and economic development, feminist visions of development, human trafficking, ethnic cleansing, immigration, terrorism, transnational feminism, the feminization of poverty, health and justice, political and ethnic conflict, human rights, comparative sexualities, comparative legal systems, peace processes, and democracy. Salary is competitive with those at other research universities. Required: Ph.D. or terminal degree in Women’s or Gender Studies or a related discipline, including formal graduate training in women’s, gender, or GLBTI studies, expected by start date of appointment. For full position description, see: http://www2.ku.edu/~clas/employment/. A letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching interests, a sample of writing, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and three letters of reference to: Professor Ann Cudd, Women’s Studies Program, University of Kansas, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room #213, Lawrence, KS 66045. acudd@ku.edu; 785/864-2311. Initial review of applications begins November 1, 2007 and will continue until the position is filled. EO/AA Employer.
Here's a fact, not a rumor. The meat market at APSA is the most depressing thing ever.
Dude! Liven that thang up! Start a craps game, dance the robot, anything!
why is it depressing?
It's depressing b/c you see large numbers of desperate, nervous ABDs and recent PhDs (some of whom have been on the market for several years) waiting around to be called for their interview. Once you go back, it's an endless maze of tables, and all you can hear is a sort of constant murmur of job candidates eagerly trying to explain why their research is the next best thing.
Yeah, it's depressing, but so is almost every other part of the job search (until you get *the* phone call).
Yikes! I was down in that hole yesterday, and it is quite an experience. I feel more sorry for the interviewers rather than the interviewees. My advice: be inspired by Ron Livingstone in "Office Space"--be relaxed, be candid, and let 'em know all about your TPS reports. Good luck to everyone on both sides!
Any senior moves anticipated? Or is it too early for knowing about those?
Some up-and-coming schools were actively recruiting in the Palmer House bar at Midwest back in the spring, but I've heard nothing about whether or not there were any takers yet.
Which "up and coming schools" might that be?
TAMU, of course.
What's "up and coming" about them? That they do formal and high quant? Who doesn't!
http://www.world-economics-
journal.com/default.asp#ArtID285
A Non-Definitive Guide to the IMF
A review article
The recent book by James R. Vreeland, The International Monetary Fund: Politics
of Conditional Lending, is meant to provide "a definitive guide to the
organization". This review article argues that it falls well short of this
ambitious aim. It is already somewhat dated. It is almost entirely about IMF
lending, largely neglecting surveillance, arguably the Fund's most important
activity. And although it provides a useful survey of the literature, its
critique of IMF lending is based on interpretations of the empirical evidence
and arguments of some IMF critics many of which are questionable. The book also
suffers from various confusions and misunderstandings. It is therefore an
unreliable guide to the organization.
... written by the Deputy Director, External Relations Department, International Monetary Fund, Washington DC, USA.
I thought arguments were assessed by their content, not by the identity of those who proferred the arguments in question.
Did you see me assess any arguments? Providing information that the author is a potentially interested party is information which those seeking to assess the argument can use or not at their discretion. I made no comment on the content of the review.
Reality imitates fiction.
See: Kurt Vonnegut, on Kurt Vonnegut, in the Rodney Dangerfield flick, "Back to School."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090685/
Any senior moves anticipated?
I feel more sorry for the interviewers rather than the interviewees.
---------------------------------
I don't. The fact that many of the interviewees are second-rate or damaged goods does not allow the interviewers to treat people they invite (as opposed to people who make the first move and contact them) with the bad attitude of a middle-school principal reprimending a difficult kid.
And, from my experience of real job interviews (followed by offers), the meat market has nothing to do with the real job search. Whoever wrote that the m.m. is "depressing, but so is almost every other part of the job search" is wrong.
is all this discussion on the m.m. actually of any help?
Is this blog of any help?
The m.m. is not useless, and the poster who said it has no relation to the "real" market is simply wrong.
Not every school is a top 10, and not every candidate is top tier. Many schools make first cuts at the convention, many are advertising themselves to candidates, and many candidates use the convention to make contacts, practice interviewing, and signal potential interest.
Of course it's a nerve wracking experience. You think this is bad? Try the MLA or AHA scene.
Comparative Politics: The Political Science Department at Wabash College invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level to teach comparative politics courses beginning July 1, 2008. Preference will be given to candidates who have teaching competence in an area, especially Europe, Latin America or the Middle East. This position is a Byron K. Trippet assistant professorship, which requires a Ph.D. in political science at the time of appointment, and carries with it two years of research support. The teaching load of three courses a semester may also include an all-college interdisciplinary course. Candidates must have a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, an active research program, and an interest in involving undergraduates in research. Wabash is located in Crawfordsville, Indiana approximately 45 minutes from both Indianapolis and West Lafayette. In addition to the amenities offered by these nearby cities, Crawfordsville is located near some of the best outdoor recreational opportunities in the state at Shades and Turkey Run State Parks. Send letter of application, CV, statement of teaching philosophy, graduate and undergraduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation to Phillip D. Mikesell, Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Political Science, Wabash College, 301 W. Wabash Ave., Crawfordsville, IN 47933. For full consideration all materials must be received by October 5, 2007. Wabash College, a liberal arts college committed to the education of undergraduate men, strongly encourages applications from women and minorities. EOE. For more information about the Department and the College, go to the College web-site [http://www.wabash.edu] where there are links to the Department and to the faculty in general.
>>>Any senior moves anticipated?<<<
Yup. I am totally outta here.
Does the macarena count as a senior move? Or do we have to go back to the twist or the swim?
So Wabash actively encourages applications from women... but they're an all-male school (one of the last, I think). Why would any self-respecting woman willingly sign on to get leered at for the next two decades by 18-year-old boys who are stuck in the middle of Indiana without any saltpeter?
Is UW making a hire to replace Wibbels this year?
Apparently not.
Why would any self-respecting woman willingly sign on to get leered at for the next two decades by 18-year-old boys who are stuck in the middle of Indiana without any saltpeter?
----------------------
I know more than one who would find the prospect extremely appealing.
Barbieri is moving? What?
Where to?
The Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, York University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Latin American Politics/Politics of the Americas. We seek a specialist in Latin American Politics who can also address its relation to either US or Canadian Politics.
Required qualifications include a completed PhD in Political Science, or equivalent, and an ongoing program of research in this area. Candidates are expected to demonstrate promise of excellence in teaching at all levels as well as in scholarly research and publication. The successful candidate must be suitable for prompt appointment to the Graduate Program in Political Science.
The position, to commence July 1, 2008, is subject to budgetary approval.
Applicants should submit a letter of application, including a curriculum vitae, teaching dossier and sample publication, and arrange to have three confidential letters of reference sent to: Professor David McNally, Chair, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, S669 Ross Building, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3. Tel: 416.736.2100, x20266. Fax: 416.736.5686.
Deadline: October 15, 2007
Ah, York. Good luck up there if you do anything mainstream. Probably no need to apply.
I'm an IPE ABD on the market this year. I see that the dept of INS is running an ad at the U of Miami - my recollection from the blog-wars earlier is that the completely batsh** department at Miami is the political science one. Is that right or is it an insitutional set of problems that goes beyond the one whacky department? Or are they the same dept?
How many junior assistants will be testing the market this year?
Last year a fair number did.
Re Miami:
That is a different department but its no great shakes either. Look and see the last person they had publish in a major journal.
They also had a faculty member fired on a trumped up charge a few years back. The U eventually setteled with him when he sued.
Ive heard that the two departments (International Studies and Political Science) are going to merge.
How many junior assistants will be testing the market this year?
Last year a fair number did.
9/07/2007 10:48 AM
Exactly 37 and one-half junior assistants will be testing the market.
Faculty Search at U North Texas:
International/Comparative Political Economy Junior Scholar Search The Political Science Department at the University of North Texas seeks to fill a position in international political economy or comparative political economy at the assistant professor level. The appointment begins in August 2008. The department seeks scholars within these fields who can expand our research and teaching in the broad range of subjects related to the interaction between economics and politics domestically and/or internationally. Applicants should have a strong potential for publishing in top-tier journals, obtaining external funding, and working with other faculty and graduate students in our comparative politics and international relations fields. The Department of Political Science at UNT has been ranked as having one of the most research productive faculty according to recent surveys in PS and is now significantly expanding the size of its faculty. We will be making three hires this coming academic year in our quest to become one of the premier political science departments in the nation. The Department of Political Science has 24 faculty members, offers BA, MA/MS, and PhD degrees, and has a commitment to both teaching and research. Faculty in the Department of Political Science also edit the journal, International Studies Quarterly. The University of North Texas is 35 miles north of Dallas and Ft. Worth and is the foremost research institution in the region. The Department’s web site can be found at http://www.psci.unt.edu. UNT is an EEO/AA/ADA institution that welcomes all opportunities to enhance our diversity. Women, minorities, Vietnam era or veterans with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, or other persons from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should provide a curriculum vitae, a writing sample, and at least three academic letters of reference. To ensure consideration, applications should be received by October 17 although they will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications should be addressed TO: T. David Mason, International Relations/Comparative Politics Search Committee, Department of Political Science, P.O. Box 305340, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203. Inquiries may be directed to the search chair by telephone at 940 565-2276 or by email at masontd@unt.edu.
re Miami: steer clear, both departments have major problems that won't be resolved anytime soon. I heard (at APSA) the two depts were going to be merged but the hemorraging in political science last spring made INS lose interest as the "human capital" that they were interested in had been so diminished. I do latin american political economy and ahve thought about trying to go there off and on, but those in the know are always very discouraging
Having been around the block a couple times, I see advertisements from places that interviewed and then passed on me some years ago. Anyone know of any cases of someone coming back to land a job after a previous rejection?
Does anyone have some background information on UNT? They seem to have made great strides over the past years. Their emphasis on IR and CP is striking.
I agree that UNT is an impressive department. (And no, I don't have any personal connection to it beyond knowing a few people there.) They don't have the resources of the top departments, but have made the most of what they've got. The untimely death of Steve Poe is a major blow, but they already have an ad out for a senior IR person, presumably to fill his position. Landing a job at UNT would be a very good thing, especially for a junior scholar in IR or comparative. There are lots of friendly and productive tenured people there who could help you get your career off to a good start.
UNT has 2 open-rank positions in IR/Comparative and a junior position in CPE/IPE. There is also an American search in race/ethnicity. The department has been flagged as a "superior" department within the university and the dean is cooperating to make real strides over the next few years. A central location in a major metro area (DFW) and *very* affordable housing make it a nice place to work and live.
If you've already interviewed some place, don't apply again unless invited. If it has been more than 5-6 years (by which time they may have had sufficient tunrnover that no one important remembers that you once interviewed there), contact the SC or dept chair and inquire if you are really interested and have not been invited.
If it's a job you'd like, then apply. If they don't want you, they won't offer you the position. But let them make that decision...don't make it for them.
Wow, a political science department that is liked by the higher powers, that must be rare. Seems like the colleagues at UNT are doing something right!
On "don't make the decision for them," I think that's generally true when it comes to candidates trying to read too much into the language of ads or the gossip about departments or positions. But if you have actually had a campus visit in the past and did not receive an offer, then you have a particular relationship with that department and you look clueless in just mailing in an application. That's not just a matter of having your app passed over; that's a reputational loss. You know those people. Touch base with them. But it is true that if they were interested, they have probably kept you in mind and would have made contact.
Any information on what Northwestern is looking for (for its Comparative search)?
They indicate that they won't be hiring a Latin Americanist and given that they have a separate Middle East search, I would expect them not to hire in that area either. I guess this is one of the few positions where Europeanists stand a decent chance, particularly given the many positions in all other areas at other (top) schools.
Does anyone know whether they prefer junior or senior?
Usually (or at least in my Dept) when Depts. advertise open rank they tend to prefer tenured.
Any views?
Some searches are listed as open-rank because the hiring department hopes to persuade its higher administration to hire a really excellent tenured person. If this excellent senior person comes along, and if the administration agrees to spend the necessary money, and if the senior person can then be persuaded to uproot their family and leave their current position, then untenured people, even promising ones, have little chance. That's a lot of large "ifs," though. If I were in the market for an untenured position, I would not rule out applying for open-rank jobs. I agree that most departments would prefer to go senior in open-rank searches, but hiring senior people is not easy.
Senior / tenured searches take a very long time and most end in failure, because in the end, the counter closes within the transaction costs. And suddenly it's April.
Much more typically, departments work through the junior candidates first, because they'll be gone if you wait. A junior person not applying to an open-rank slot, just because it's open-rank, is making a mistake.
Unless you know the Dept. is actively courting someone, and the courted person is interested.
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