Dr. Johannes Schubert

Professor

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Biography

Jon Schubert is a political economic anthropologist with extensive ethnographic research experience, primarily focused on urban environments in Angola and Mozambique. His research interests encompass social infrastructure, the impact of extractive industries on African political landscapes, authoritarian politics, middle-class urbanism in the Global South, and the sustainable development of urban areas in light of the climate crisis. Schubert leads the SNF-funded research project PRECURBICA, which explores precarious urbanism in Coastal Africa, challenging traditional narratives dominated by global urban planners. This project aims to unveil the strategies employed by African actors in addressing the vulnerabilities posed by climate change. His notable publication, 'Working System: Political Ethnography New Angola' (Cornell University Press, 2017), serves as a landmark ethnographic analysis of contemporary neo-authoritarianism in Africa. Schubert has co-edited several works, including 'Extractive Industries Changing State Dynamics Africa: Resource Curse' (Routledge, 2018). His work has been supported by various institutions, contributing significant insights into the dynamics of African state politics and urbanization. Schubert holds an MA and PhD in African Studies and has held academic positions across several universities in Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, as well as visiting professorships.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Basel

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:95
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least 180 ECTS Specific ECTS requirements in core subjects (e.g., 90 ECTS in Math/CS for Data Science)
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree certificate or current transcript of records
  • Diploma Supplement (if available)
  • CV/Resume
  • Copy of valid passport or ID card
  • Evidence of language proficiency (C1 level recommended for English/German programs)
  • Proof of payment of application fee (CHF 100)
Specialization Notes

The University of Basel generally requires C1 level proficiency in the language of instruction. For most English-taught Masters, TOEFL (min 92-95) or IELTS (min 7.0) is the standard.