Call for Grant Proposals: Governing Deep Differences Grant Program

The Center for Governance and Market at the University of Pittsburgh is inviting proposals for research projects that align with the project, Governing Deep Difference: Modus Vivendi, Polycentrism, and Institutional Diversity. Led by Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili (University of Pittsburgh) and Paul Dragos Aligica (University of Bucharest/Mercatus Center), this initiative explores critical inquiries in political philosophy and governance theory, focusing on the peaceful coexistence and prosperity of contemporary societies amid profound cultural and political disruptions.   

Grants of up to $15,000 will be considered. Note that no indirect costs are permitted in this grant opportunity.  

Applications must be submitted for consideration before 11:59 p.m. ET on September 15, 2024. Funding decisions will be made and sent to applicants no later than October 15, 2024. 

All applications must include: 

Projects will have a duration of no longer than 7 months with an end date of May 31, 2025.  

Progress Report: A short progress report on the state of the grant-funded project must be submitted in the middle of the project, specifically four months after the commencement date. For the current project, the first progress report is due by December 31, 2024. 

Final Report: At the end of the grant term or upon completion of the grant-supported project — whichever comes first — a final report is due along with a complete research paper in a publishable format.  

This call for proposals seeks to engage scholars to contribute to the research project, Governing Deep Differences: Modus Vivendi, Polycentrism, and Institutional Diversity, led by Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili (University of Pittsburgh) and Paul Dragos Aligica (University of Bucharest/Mercatus Center).  

The project aims to tackle pressing questions in political philosophy and governance theory, focusing on how modern societies, with their profound cultural and political divides, can coexist peacefully and flourish. 

In a world marked by increasing polarization fueled by globalization and technological progress, there is a critical need for governance structures that can effectively manage diversity. Existing approaches may be insufficient to address the complex challenges we face. 

This project explores the concept of modus vivendi—”live and let live”—to gain insights into how governance can navigate cultural heterogeneity and the lack of consensus alongside the notion of polycentricity – that multiple levels of governance may be required to solve these complex issues.  

This project takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining philosophical inquiry with empirical research and fieldwork across diverse global contexts. By examining both theory and real-world applications, the project develops a nuanced understanding of how modus vivendi arrangements operate. 

We are interested in submissions that address the following aspects: 

Theoretical Exploration: Proposals should engage deeply with the theoretical underpinnings of modus vivendi, polycentrism, and institutional diversity within contemporary governance challenges. We encourage critical examinations of these concepts and their relevance to diverse societies, aiming to produce scholarly research papers that advance our understanding. 

Empirical Research: We invite proposals presenting empirical studies or fieldwork exploring the implementation and functioning of modus vivendi arrangements in real-world contexts. Submissions should offer practical insights into how diverse communities navigate cultural diversity and consensus gaps through governance structures, supporting our efforts in data collection. 

Interdisciplinary Perspectives: We value proposals that adopt an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from political philosophy, social science, governance theory, and related fields. Submissions should demonstrate how interdisciplinary perspectives enrich our comprehension of governance dynamics in heterogeneous societies, fostering global collaborations among scholars. 

Policy Implications: We’re interested in proposals discussing the policy implications of research findings. Submissions should explore how theoretical insights and empirical evidence can inform policy decisions and contribute to effective governance strategies for managing deep cultural and political differences, supporting our efforts in shaping global collaborations and policy interventions. 

Relevance and Alignment: The extent to which the proposal addresses the research themes of “Governing Deep Difference: Modus Vivendi, Polycentrism, and Institutional Diversity.” Proposals should contribute meaningfully to advancing knowledge in the field of governance theory related to these concepts and ideas.  

Conceptual Clarity: The clarity and coherence of the proposal’s theoretical framework and conceptual approach. Evaluators will assess the clarity of the research questions, the soundness of the theoretical foundation, and the logical consistency of the proposed methodology. 

Methodological Rigor: The robustness and appropriateness of the proposed research methodology. Proposals should outline clear research methods, data collection techniques, and analytical approaches. Evaluators will consider the feasibility of the proposed methods in generating reliable and valid research findings. 

Innovation and Originality: The novelty and innovation of the proposed research approach and the potential contribution to advancing scholarly understanding in the field. Evaluators will assess the originality of the research questions, the novelty of the theoretical insights, and the innovative aspects of the proposed methodology. 

Potential Impact: The potential impact of the proposed research on academic scholarship, policy development, and practical governance challenges. Proposals should articulate the significance of the research findings and their relevance to addressing real-world governance crises in diverse societies. 

Feasibility and Implementation: The feasibility of implementing the proposed research within the project timeline and resource constraints. Evaluators will assess the feasibility of the research plan, including the availability of necessary resources, access to data or field sites, and the capacity of the research team to execute the proposed research effectively. 

This grant opportunity is funded with support from the John Templeton Foundation.  

Proposals must not exceed 10 pages in total, including the components listed above and the respective bibliography. Additionally, brief CVs of all research team members must be attached. 

Please submit your proposals to cgm@pitt.edu 

For any questions regarding the call for proposals, please contact the above-mentioned email address. Kindly follow the recommendations provided at the end of this document when preparing your proposal. 

Applicant eligibility: Applicants must currently be one of the following:  

All grant recipients must sign a grant agreement as a condition of receiving grant funds.  

International eligibility: We accept grant applications from outside of the United States. However, CGM does not distribute grant funds to individuals or organizations in countries subject to sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury (OFAC) or that are listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC. 

Eligible uses of grant funds: Research expenses, paid access to polling and datasets, interviews and data collection, interview subjects, travel to access archival materials, wages for research assistants paid hourly to work on grant projects, journal submission fees, and/or publication fees. Any questions about whether expenses are eligible for funding may be directed to CGM.  

Ineligible uses of grant funds: Retroactive funding of expenses before grant disbursement, computer hardware expenses, living expenses, salary supplementation are not permitted.  

Application evaluation: Grant applications will be evaluated for relevance and adherence to methodological rigor and standards of the field by scholars in the field of study indicated in the grant application. Grant applications approved by the scholars will be selected for funding by CGM. 

Budget change policy: If changes to the budget of the project are necessary after the funds have been disbursed, grant recipients must inform CGM. 

This project is supported with funding from the John Templeton Foundation.