25 August 2025

Are you a student enrolled at Leiden University or another Dutch university, with an interest in the intersection of international politics, global finance, and law? The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, in collaboration with the Hazelhoff Centre for Financial Law, is seeking a Student Assistant (16 hours per week) to support a new research project within the Diplomacy and Global Affairs group.

About the project

This project investigates the international politics of global payment systems. For many decades, the Western world’s financial systems have largely relied on a specific payment protocol maintained by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). But not everyone is happy with this arrangement. Certain countries, like Russia, China, and Iran, view SWIFT as a strategic liability because it exposes their economies to Western sanctions. As a result, they have sought to create alternatives to SWIFT to achieve greater autonomy on the world stage.

We know very little, however, about the nature of these alternatives or the extent to which they have been successful. This project will fill this gap by conducting the first ever comparative analysis of SWIFT alternatives.
It will specifically have the objective of answering three primary research questions:

• What is the full spectrum of SWIFT alternatives in the international financial system?
• What are the key characteristics of SWIFT alternatives and how do those characteristics vary across projects?
• What are the political, economic, and legal factors which impact whether these political projects are successful?

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the performance of a literature review on the politics of global payment systems.
• Assist with research on the history of SWIFT and global payment systems.
• Assist with research on the history of global efforts to replace SWIFT and create alternative payment infrastructures.
• Assist with research on the performance of alternative payment systems and their political dynamics.
• Assist with legal research on SWIFT and alternative payment systems.
• Assist with the administration and maintenance of the project.
• Assist with document review and analysis.
• Assist with communication and reach-out to relevant organizations.
• Assist with other ad hoc administrative tasks that should arise during the course of the project.

Your profile

• You are currently enrolled at Leiden University or another Dutch university.

• You are fluent in English (fluency in other languages is desirable).

• You hold a bachelor’s degree.

• You have excellent research skills.

• You have strong organisational and administrative skills.

• You communicate in a professional and courteous manner, both by email and in person.

• You are a self-starter who can work independently on research tasks.

• You are collaborative and open to constructive feedback.

• Ideally, you have knowledge of international relations, international finance, or both.

Terms and conditions

The position is offered via Jobagency Jobmotion. The period will be from 10 November 2025, to 27 February 2026, for 16 hours a week (with flexibility depending on class schedules, project needs, and hours worked per week).

The contract and the conditions will be as follows: SA4 Master € 18,07 p/h

Application

If interested, please send your CV, your studentnumber and a motivation letter as a single PDF file to BOTH Dr. Miles Kellerman, email m.g.kellerman@fgga.leidenuniv.nl AND Dr. Ebbe Rogge, email e.rogge@law.leidenuniv.nl no later than 5PM on 24 October 2025. The position is envisaged to commence on 10 November 2025.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed on the week of 3 November 2025. Interviews may be held through an online platform.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

Diversity

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Information

Enquiries can be made to Dr. Miles Kellerman, email m.g.kellerman@fgga.leidenuniv.nl or Dr. Ebbe Rogge, email e.rogge@law.leidenuniv.nl

Diplomacy and Global Affairs Group/Hazelhoff Centre for Financial Law

You will be associated with the Diplomacy and Global Affairs (DGA) research group within ISGA and the Hazelhoff Centre for Financial Law. The Diplomacy and Global Affairs research group focuses on international diplomacy, international organisations and (global, transnational, multiple and comparative) governance. Key research themes include the European Union and the United Nations, the current EU enlargement policy, the rule of law in the EU, democratic backsliding and autocratisation. 

The Hazelhoff Centre studies financial law in a broad sense. As we understand it, financial law encompasses, inter alia, the legal aspects of  financial supervision, functioning of financial markets, finance transactions, market abuse, payment systems, duties of care in the banking sector, corporate governance, bank insolvency and liability in the financial sector. 

Our institute

The Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA) is a scientific institute that focuses on multidisciplinary research and education within the international field of security studies. ISGA operates from The Hague, centre of national and international governance and City of Peace, Justice and Security. 

Our organisation

The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA) offers academic education in the field of Public Administration, Cybersecurity, Safety and Security, and International Relations, as well as in-depth post-academic programmes for professionals. In addition, the Faculty is also home to Leiden University College.