Visiting Assistant Professor of Japanese Domestic Politics

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Position Details

Title

Visiting Assistant Professor of Japanese Domestic Politics

Appointment Status

Non-Tenure Track

Department

IU Bloomington East Asian Langs & Cultures

Location

Bloomington

Position Summary

Indiana University-Bloomington’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies seeks applications for a full-time visiting assistant professor (VAP) of Japanese domestic politics to begin January 1, 2027. The position is for up to three consecutive teaching semesters (Spring 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028), subject to campus approval.

This non-tenure-track VAP position is based in Indiana University’s renowned multidisciplinary Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) and partially funded by the Japan Foundation. The teaching load is two courses per semester—including one course each semester focusing specifically on some aspect of contemporary Japanese politics (broadly defined).

Eligible candidates will have a PhD in political science (or related field) in hand before January 1, 2027, and combine disciplinary rigor and area studies expertise to analyze Japan and East Asian politics. Candidates whose research agenda extensively utilizes Japanese-language sources and who demonstrate an interest in contributing to Hamilton Lugar’s 21st Century Japan Politics and Society Initiative (21JPSI) will be particularly competitive. 21JPSI expects to be able to provide the successful candidate with a funded manuscript workshop and a research trip to Japan in summer 2027.

This is an exciting moment to join the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies as it leads Indiana University’s international and area studies research and teaching missions. Hamilton Lugar’s EALC department boasts a robust and multidisciplinary Japan studies program, including faculty teaching on cinema, foreign affairs, history, language pedagogy, literature, music, religion, society, and visual culture. It also teaches Japanese language to over 300 students each semester. Established more than sixty years ago, the EALC department has a long history of interdisciplinarity and boasts faculty strengths in a wide array of the humanities and social sciences. The department’s mission related to research and teaching on East Asia is complemented by Hamilton Lugar’s East Asian Studies Center, the Institute of Korean Studies, and 21JPSI. Learn more at https://ealc.indiana.edu/; https://hls.indiana.edu/; and https://jpsi.indiana.edu/.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a brief description of four possible course offerings on Japanese and/or East Asian domestic politics (broadly defined), and a list of at least two references who may be contacted about the application. Sample syllabi—especially for a Japanese domestic politics course—are welcome but not required.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with all applications received by August 9, 2026 being assured full consideration.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in political science (or related field) in hand no later than December 31, 2026
• Ability to teach courses on issues related to Japanese domestic politics

Department Contact for Questions

For inquiries regarding the nature of the position, candidates may the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at ealc@iu.edu. Questions related to the submission process through the Indiana University job portal may be directed to Mr. Zac Muller, Assistant Director of Faculty Relations for the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at zmuller@iu.edu.

Additional Qualifications

Preference will be shown to candidates expressing interest in teaching courses with a more regional or comparative (e.g., East Asia-wide) focus and which complement existing EALC department offerings, a demonstrated track record conducting research using Japanese-language sources, and interest in contributing to the mission of 21JPSI.

Salary and Rank

Special Instructions

For Best Consideration Date

08/09/2026

Expected Start Date

01/01/2027

Posting Number

IU-101534-2026

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application
• Proposed Course Description

Optional Documents

• Other
• Sample Syllabus
• Other 2
• Other 3