DECRIPT Program/ Post-Doctoral researcher/ Scientific collaborator WP3-Civilizational narratives, universalism and multilateral governance

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.
The programme DECRIPT (Dispositif d'Études des Crises et Récits civilisationnels par la Pluridisciplinarité et les Terrains), is a multidisiplinary research and transfer program in global and area studies. Focusing on the analysis of the relationship between civilisational narratives, universalism and conflict logics, 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 within the framework of DECRIPT, working within one of the spaces dedicated to the project (Paris, Bordeaux or Lille), post-docs may be assigned to one of the following establishments: 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 coordination 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

The cross-functional work package (WP3) on civilizational narratives, universalism and multilateral governance examines macro-level changes in the international system and compares the political and institutional effects of specific civilizational narratives on the world stage.

It seeks to typologize challenges to the international system and universal norms, moving beyond simplistic "Global South" vs. "West" categorisations; to assess the evolution of civilizational narratives within various international arenas (UN-system institutions, OIC, BRICS, etc.) to highlight how challenges to universalism impact collective efforts to address global challenges such as conflict resolution, weapons control, development, climate change, natural resources management, and migration; and to examine North American and European actors' projection of values, exploring how it faces increasing criticism on the ground of neo-imperialism and investigating Western actors’s shift from universalist to more civilizational narratives. The program also examines how the European Union and the United States produce and promote their own narratives in such a context of recompositions and the possible internal and global divisions resulting from these narratives.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop a project aimed at connecting these global and regional issues to empirical research. The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of the UN system, its ongoing challenges and transformations, 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 WP3.

Missions and activities

The post-doctoral fellow will have three main tasks:

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 WP3 (open seminar; researchers-practicioners meetings; publications; scientific events under WP3);

• 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 WP3, 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 other language 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. An administrative application form, to be completed at the following address: https://www.inalco.fr/form/decript-postdoctorat

2. An 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 matter of priority to one of the consortium's member institutions and/or research units, or whether he/she leaves this assignment to the discretion of the project steering committee, depending on his/her research focus and the program's priorities.
• Copy of PhD diploma or certificate of completion;
• Complete 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 research institutions or 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 be required to add to their application a certificate of 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 face-to-face): between May 28 and June 5, 2025
• Results announcement: June 10, 2025
• Installation and contract signing: September 1 or October 1, 2025