Looking for Ph.D Programs

[defektor]

Good day everyone.

 

I am a 28-year-old Finnish citizen, and I hope to start working on a Ph. D. degree at some point.

 

I am currently doing my (second) M.A. degree at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany. I already hold a master’s degree in East Asian (Chinese) studies, with minors in political history and political science from the University of Helsinki, Finland. To date I have also spent some three years studying and working in China.

 

Now even though I have plenty of ideas in my head, I haven't yet written a dissertation proposal of any kind. However, I can say with almost certainty that I'd like to combine (at least some of) the following elements to my work:
- Contemporary Chinese political history.
- History politics / political use of history. 
- Cultural diplomacy / soft power issues.

 

Now I posted this very same message in the "humanities->history" as well as "social sciences->political science" forums as I feel my area(s) of interest lies somewhere in between the two disciplines and thus I feel that I am having some trouble finding the "right" place(s) to apply for. On one hand it seems that most departments in East Asian/Chinese studies are focusing heavily on pre-modern culture, literature and language. On the other hand, departments in political science and contemporary history (I am not even sure if in the States there are departments dedicated to what we call contemporary/political history or Zeitgeschichte here) seem to put their emphasis on European and American affairs and I am not sure how they would feel about my aspiration to include the China perspective and the historical dimension to my research. 

Does anyone have any recommendations? Who should I contact? What university/faculty/department should I look into? 

 

Thanks in advance,

Olli

[eponine997]

the Jackson School at the University of Washington immediately comes to mind since you seem to favor an interdisciplinary approach with an area-studies focus (China in particular)

Also, for PhD programs in the U.S. you are not expected to have your dissertation proposal written upon acceptance.  For a (approximately) 5-year program, the proposal completed after the second year.  For admission they expect you to have a clear idea of what you want to study and how it fits into the discipline/program to which you are applying.  

[GopherGrad]

Tervetuloa Grad Cafeen!

 

1) Ditto eponine regarding the dissertation proposal. Don't sweat it.

 

2) With respect to history versus political science, history is in general a descriptive field and political science and ascriptive one. In other words, history is to political science what archeology is to biology. As a historian, you'll be discovering evidence and trying to brush away everything that's irrelevant to leave the important stuff. As a political scientist, you'll be examining the evidence to put together theories about things actually work.

 

If you have a sense about which of those tasks appeals to you (even though there is some obvious overlap), that's probably where you want to place your emphasis.

 

3) Your interests are very different from mine, but I happen to know that my program (University of California at San Diego) has a very strong China studies focus in the poli-sci department. I'd point out Susan Shirk as an example of great faculty for this kind of research. The school has a Master's program across the sidewalk from the polisci department called IR/PS, which is a policy oriented school with a wide variety of China scholars, as well (the PS stands for "Pacific Studies").

 

Ja San Diegon ilma on parempi kuin Helsingin.

[PoliSwede]

Ja San Diegon ilma on parempi kuin Helsingin.

Anything is!

 

Seriously though. I've been to Helsingfors three times and it rained on me every single time. 

Edited June 5, 2013 by Lemeard

[defektor]

Thank you for the answers everyone!

I'll keep your suggestions, tips and advices in mind when I start working on the application(s)!

I didn't know about the dissertation thing, very interesting info eponine997!

GopherGrad: First of all kiitos!

Secondly, regarding your second point: as you pointed out there is some overlap. Topics in history politics are somewhat complicated, as they often focus both on the present day politics (how, why etc. history is used as an instrument of politics) as well as the past (the actual history that is being used as an instrument). In Europe there is a strong tradition of of including topics like this in the discipline of contemporary history studies (the previously mentioned Zeitgeschichte or poliittinen historia in Finnish), but as this is not the case in the States, I thought I should probably gather some names I could contact and ask for their opinion. And now that I have some names, I can start reading more and sending some e-mails

Ja viimeisen uskon kyllä! Toisaalta Ah-niin-raikkasta Pekingin saasteilmasta juuri saapuneelle Suomen lyhyt ja vähäluminen kesäkin on yhtä luksusta

[GopherGrad]

Joo, ma kasvin Minesotaan ja arvostamme kesa-ilma. Mutta en uhnotanyt talveja tai lumeja; ma nauttin auringon kuin Californialainen sivuttaan sen.

 

It has been a *long* time since I've tried to speak Finnish.

[CGMJ]

Joo, ma kasvin Minesotaan ja arvostamme kesa-ilma. Mutta en uhnotanyt talveja tai lumeja; ma nauttin auringon kuin Californialainen sivuttaan sen.

 

It has been a *long* time since I've tried to speak Finnish.

 

We are all impressed