DECRIPT program/ Post-Doctoral contract/ Scientific collaborator WP4-Civilizational narratives and the Indo-Pacific - Focus on China

Context and objectives of the position

Founded in 1795, Inalco is a research university in the heart of Paris, offering teaching and research in over 100 languages, as well as humanities ​​and social sciences with a special focus on non-Western areas. Hosting 340 tenured academics and 160 administrative staff, it offers training to over 8000 students. Inalco’s research activities are conducted within 14 research teams, combining global and area studies with disciplinary fields.

DECRIPT is a multidisiplinary research and transfer program in global and area studies. Focusing on the analysis of the relationship between civilisational narratives, universalism and conflicts, DECRIPT blends humanities, social sciences, and data analytics to produce empirically grounded, policy-relevant research on these critical challenges on a global scale and in 4 key areas (Indo-Pacific, Africa, Ukraine and the former Soviet world, Near East and Middle East). The programme approaches civilisational narratives as socially, strategically and ideologically constructed discourses, articulating specific understandings of historical trajectories, cultural values and collective roles in the world order. Through its innovative Lab, it aims to connect researchers, policy makers and society to develop original research tools and analytical frameorks to address and navigate an increasingly narrative-driven global order.

DECRIPT brings together nearly 400 researchers and practicioners from 15 consortium partners including major French universities (Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Université Paris Panthéon-Assas, Université Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL), Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (USN), Université Paris 8, Université Bordeaux Montaigne (UBM), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), Sciences Po Paris, Sciences Po Bordeaux, Sciences Po Lille), research organizations (CNRS, IRD) as well as leading institutions in the area of international relations practices as well as policy transfer (AFD, IFRI). DECRIPT also relies on a network of over 50 stakeholders, including international actors chosen to enhance scientific excellence, partenarial research in the program’s areas of specialization, and societal transfer.

Five post-doctoral researchers, who will be part of the permanent DECRIPT team, will contribute to the scientific coordination of the project and to the development of the transfer mechanisms of the work package for which they will be recruited. They will devote at least 25% of their working time to collective tasks within the programme, and carry out a research project related to the theme of their work package.

Recruited by Inalco as part of DECRIPT and physically working at one of the workspaces dedicated to the project (Paris, Bordeaux or Lille), post-doctoral researchers will be assigned to one of the following institution : Inalco, Université Bordeaux Montaigne (UBM), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL), Sciences Po Bordeaux, Sciences Po Paris, IRD.

They will be part of the permanent DECRIPT team. They will contribute to the coordination and scientific management of their work package, working closely with the team (in particular Decript’s scientific leader/principal investigator, its scientific coordinator, the operational manager and other post-docs) and with the researchers involved in the scientific steering of each program.

They will carry out their post-doctoral research project in close collaboration with a mentor within one of the consortium institutions.

Scientific profile

WP4, the Indo-Pacific program, examines this region as a crucible of competing worldviews.

It explores the spectrum of civilizational narratives underpinning conflicting geopolitical agendas, from those presented as compatible with the current world order while drawing on reinvented "local" references (e.g. India's incorporation of Hindu concepts in foreign policy) to more differentialist perspectives (e.g. China's use of historical references to reshape regional and global order). The program investigates how such narratives legitimize emerging nations' reformist claims on global governance structures, concrete geopolitical objectives, and political or economic models. This work package places a particular emphasis on China as a key actor in shaping civilizational discourse in international relations.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop a project aimed at connecting these global and regional issues to empirical research. The ideal candidate would have excellent knowledge of China, which is the program’s focal point, however, projects focused on other empirical cases will also be considered.

Holding a doctorate in the humanities and social sciences — including area studies, political science, public law, sociology, history, literature, anthropology, linguistics, economics, geography, and information and communication sciences — the postdoctoral researcher will be able to base their research on epistemological and methodological reflections aligned with the context and scientific objectives of DECRIPT. They will be able to utilize (or be trained in) a variety of methods, including, for example, discourse analysis, lexicometry, multiple correspondence analysis, concept genealogy, ethnographic fieldwork, semi-structured interviews, and OSINT.

Open to collective research and multidisciplinary approaches, they will be able to combine empirical research, epistemological questions, and methodological innovations.

Through their sense of initiative, they will fully contribute to the deployment of DECRIPT, the implementation of its scientific program, and the visibility of WP4.

Missions and activities

The post-doc will have three main missions:
1. Working in support of the DECRIPT programme (min. 25% of working time), in particular :

• Participation in team meetings to plan, implement and monitor WP implementation;
• Supporting the elaboration and organisation of scientific and transfer activities under WP4 (open seminar; researchers-practicioners meetings; publications; scientific events under WP4);
• Contributing to the planning and production of notes, podcasts and other ways of transferring research results to society and public policy.

2. Carring out a research project contributing to the achievement of the scientific objectives of WP4, by developing one of the lines of research mentioned in the description of the WP, in particular by publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals.
3. Contributing to the advancement of research tools and methods for research in global and area studies, in close collaboration with the DECRIPT team dedicated and other post-docs. This will involve participation in seminars and the elaboration of training modules developed as part of WP2 (research tools and training).

Expected skills

• Required: PhD in SHS
• Skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Ability and willingness to work in a multidisciplinary way
• Excellent writing skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Scientific rigor, curiosity and strong motivation
• Excellent command of English and at least one language of the Indo-Pacific region (especially Chinese/Mandarin) to access primary sources useful for the project; fluency in French is desirable.

HR information

Applications must be completed and sent no later than Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm (GMT+1).
They consist of two parts:
1. A administrative application form, to be completed at the following address: https://www.inalco.fr/form/decript-postdoctorat

2. A application file, to be sent to decript@inalco.fr (copy to drh-recrutements@inalco.fr ), comprising the following documents:
- Application letter including a description of the personal research project envisaged as part of the post-doctorate (five pages maximum, describing the research question, methods and main objectives of the post-doctoral project). The letter will specify whether the candidate wishes to be assigned as a priority to a consortium institution and/or a research unit among the consortium member institutions or research organizations, or whether he or she leaves this assignment to the discretion of the project steering committee, depending on his or her research focus and the program's priorities.

- Copy of PhD diploma or attestation of successful completion;
- Full CV and list of publications;
- Thesis defense report;
- Letter of recommendation;
- Optional: letter of support from a prospective post-doctoral mentor at one of the consortium member institutions or research organizations.
Candidates currently in the final year of their PhD may apply with a planned start date no later than October 1, 2025. They will then have to add to their application a certificate of the date of defense signed by their doctoral school.
Applications must be completed and sent no later than Sunday May 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm (GMT+1) to the following addresses: decript@inalco.fr, copy to drh-recrutement@inalco.fr

Provisional timetable

• Application deadline: May 11, 2025
• Pre-selection announcement: May 13, 2025
• Auditions (by videoconference or in person): between May 28 and June 5, 2025
• Results announcement: June 10, 2025
• Installation and contract signing: September 1 or October 1, 2025