Contrat postdoctoral (M/F) Relations interpersonnelles et vote dans les campagnes populaires

Job Description

Missions

Working-class voting displays considerable variation across time and space: depending on the period and the place, the same social groups may support radically opposed political currents. To explain this variability, so-called contextual approaches to voting emphasise voters' social environment rather than their individual characteristics alone.
In this project, we hypothesise that the effect of this "context" is largely the effect of local networks of relationships, which constitute an explanatory link connecting the properties of territories to individual attitudes. We therefore propose to use the tools of Social Network Analysis (SNA) to reconstruct the networks of interpersonal relationships in four areas of south-west France and to study their effects on electoral choices.
The main survey consists in collecting personal network questionnaires from 800 respondents through face-to-face interviews, in rural and working-class areas of Occitanie divided between left-wing voting, far-right voting and abstention. We plan two waves of data collection, the first around the time of the 2027 presidential election and the second a year later. This localised quantitative survey will be complemented by a qualitative component in the same areas, following a mixed-methods approach.

Activity

You will focus on two tasks: conducting the qualitative component of the survey, and supporting the collection of questionnaires.
• Qualitative component: this involves carrying out fieldwork in two areas of Occitanie (out of four possible ones: Ariège, Aude, Gard and Tarn; the choice of the two selected is to be discussed). The fieldwork will run over the whole duration of the contract, with a regular presence in the field. It will consist mainly of semi-structured interviews and, secondarily, of observation in public spaces. You will work in coordination with two other researchers present in the field (Timothée Chabot and Félicie Roux), and will also be in regular contact with the other team members working on the quantitative part of the survey.
• Questionnaire component: from February to July 2027, and again from February to April 2028, the NEMO team will organise a face-to-face collection of questionnaires, recruiting respondents through snowball sampling. The collection will be led by research engineers, whom you will support by approaching potential respondents through your fieldwork or by administering some of the questionnaires yourself.

In addition to collecting survey data, your contribution will include writing one or more scientific publications, alone or in collaboration with other team members, as well as taking part in NEMO's other activities (discussions on the project's methodology, seminars, etc.).

Your Profil

Skills

Candidates must meet the following requirements:
• A doctorate in sociology, political science, social geography, or a related discipline. The thesis must have been defended less than 7 years before recruitment. If the thesis has not yet been defended at the time of application, a certificate may be provided specifying the defence date.
• Experience in conducting fieldwork in rural and/or working-class settings, as well as in qualitative research methods (ethnography, interviews).
• A command of spoken French sufficient to carry out the fieldwork.
The following are not prerequisites but will be considered an asset:
• familiarity with mixed methods and/or social network analysis;
• familiarity with the political sociology literature on the determinants of voting and/or on sociability in rural and working-class settings;
• experience of research with far-right voters;
• knowledge of the areas of the Occitanie region

The application must be sent by 19 October 2026 at the latest. It must include:
1. A cover letter (2 pages maximum).
2. A copy of the doctoral degree certificate and the thesis defence reports (an exception is possible for those who defended their doctorate abroad in a country where the jury does not provide a report; in that case, please explain your situation in a separate document).
3. A CV.
4. One piece of scientific work of your choice (published article or article under revision, thesis chapter).
5. The contact details (email and institutional affiliation) of two people able to provide a reference for your application. We will contact them directly if your application is retained after an initial round of review.

Following a shortlisting stage, an in-person interview will be held in Toulouse during the week of 2 November (shortlisting results will be announced by 26 October at the latest). Travel costs for the interview can be covered, and videoconferencing is available for candidates who prefer it.

Your Work Environment

You will join the ANR project team and be hosted on the LISST premises at the Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès campus. A workstation and a computer will be made available to you, and you will be able to take part in all the laboratory's activities (seminars, team meetings, etc.).
Your work-related travel within Occitanie will be covered. Moreover, since a continuous presence in the field is required, it is preferable to live in or around Toulouse, or close to the fieldwork sites (Ariège, Aude, Gard, Tarn).
Funding is available after the end of the contract to support your attendance at conferences and congresses presenting the work carried out. In addition, at the end of your contract you will retain access to all the anonymised qualitative and quantitative data you helped collect, which you may draw on in your own research.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

entre 3041€ et 4216€ selon expérience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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