John D. Ciorciari

John D. Ciorciari is Professor and Dean at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University Bloomington. He previously served as Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Policy Engagement at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and directed the Weiser Diplomacy Center and International Policy Center. He has held academic affiliations with the University of Oxford and Stanford University, and professional roles in the U.S. Treasury Department and Davis Polk & Wardwell law firm.

Education:

• A.B., Harvard College, 1995
• J.D., Harvard Law School, 1998
• M.Phil. in International Relations, University of Oxford (Christ Church), 2002
• D.Phil. in International Relations, University of Oxford (St. Antony’s College), 2007

John Ciorciari’s research centers on international politics and law, with special focus on the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. foreign policy, peacebuilding, and international criminal justice. His work explores how states navigate great-power rivalry, how international actors intervene in fragile states, and the design and impact of hybrid judicial mechanisms. He has conducted extensive field research in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia, contributing both theoretical and policy-relevant insights.

His recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with sovereignty, governance, and justice in post-conflict settings. Themes include sovereignty sharing in fragile states, Japan’s diplomatic role in Southeast Asia, hybrid tribunals, and the foreign policy strategies of small and middle powers in the context of U.S.-China competition. These works span political science, international law, and regional studies, demonstrating interdisciplinary depth.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• Andrew Carnegie Fellow
• Asia Society Fellow
• Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford

Throughout his career, Ciorciari has secured significant research grants and fellowships supporting his work on international law and foreign policy. He has advised international organizations and governments on peacebuilding and transitional justice, particularly in Southeast Asia. As a senior legal advisor to the Documentation Center of Cambodia, he has played a sustained role in documenting and promoting accountability for historical atrocities. His leadership in academic centers has fostered interdisciplinary research and policy engagement.

He has been involved in major research initiatives including the Weiser Diplomacy Center and the International Policy Center at Michigan, and continues to lead strategic academic programming at the Hamilton Lugar School. His work bridges scholarship and practice, emphasizing real-world impact through policy engagement, legal advising, and public scholarship.