Julian Dierkes

Julian Dierkes is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) at the University of British Columbia, holding the Keidanren Chair in Japanese Research. He also serves as Senior Associate Dean in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and has been elected to the UBC-V Senate until 2023. His research focuses on democracy, citizenship, development, international trade, and diplomacy, with regional expertise in East Asia, particularly Japan and Mongolia.

Education: Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University (2003), M.A. in Sociology (1996), and B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley (1992). His work bridges neo-institutionalist sociology with policy engagement, emphasizing the role of communication tools in diplomacy and policy-making.

Key Research Interests: National identity through history education, supplementary education systems, Mongolia’s political development, mining policy, and digital diplomacy. He actively contributes to blogs like Mongolia Focus and Direct Diplomacy, analyzing contemporary issues in Mongolia and global policy trends.

Awards: 2019 Public Outreach Award (Central Eurasian Studies Society), 2013 Governor General’s Medallion, and 2012 Peter Larkin Award (UBC). His professional service includes roles at the American Center for Mongolian Studies, Institute of Asian Research, and editorial positions in academic journals.

Policy Engagement: Advises on Mongolia’s development, political risk analysis, and global indices. His work integrates research with direct policy dialogue, particularly in digital diplomacy and supplementary education reform.