Charles McClean
@cmcclean.bsky.social
📚 Assistant Professor of Political Science at Yale
👦🏻👨🏻👴🏻 Politics of Age
🇯🇵 Japanese Politics
👦🏻👨🏻👴🏻 Politics of Age
🇯🇵 Japanese Politics
Pinned
Charles McClean
@cmcclean.bsky.social
· Mar 1
📢Now published open access at Political Behavior📢
Using age manipulation software, @yoshiono.bsky.social and I find voters (even older ones) like younger candidates but strongly dislike elderly candidates.
Why is this the case? Read our article to find out more: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Using age manipulation software, @yoshiono.bsky.social and I find voters (even older ones) like younger candidates but strongly dislike elderly candidates.
Why is this the case? Read our article to find out more: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
I was quoted in @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social on Takaichi’s unusually strong support among younger voters — and what that meant for the LDP going into Japan’s snap election thedispatch.com/newsletter/m...
Takaichi’s Historic Supermajority
At least 31 killed in Islamabad bombing, updates on the U.S.-Iran talks, and please don’t juggle fire while on a unicycle in public.
thedispatch.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:28 AM
I was quoted in @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social on Takaichi’s unusually strong support among younger voters — and what that meant for the LDP going into Japan’s snap election thedispatch.com/newsletter/m...
This morning, I joined @kristigovella.bsky.social and Nick Szechenyi at @japan.csis.org to discuss the outcome of Japan's snap election.
The video is now posted if you'd like to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF1F...
The video is now posted if you'd like to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF1F...
Inside Japan’s High-Stakes Snap Election
YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
This morning, I joined @kristigovella.bsky.social and Nick Szechenyi at @japan.csis.org to discuss the outcome of Japan's snap election.
The video is now posted if you'd like to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF1F...
The video is now posted if you'd like to watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF1F...
Takaichi's snap election gamble has clearly paid off.
Snap elections tend to benefit incumbents — especially when opposition parties are caught off guard and the campaign period is particularly short.
I've written about this dynamic before: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Snap elections tend to benefit incumbents — especially when opposition parties are caught off guard and the campaign period is particularly short.
I've written about this dynamic before: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 8, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Takaichi's snap election gamble has clearly paid off.
Snap elections tend to benefit incumbents — especially when opposition parties are caught off guard and the campaign period is particularly short.
I've written about this dynamic before: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Snap elections tend to benefit incumbents — especially when opposition parties are caught off guard and the campaign period is particularly short.
I've written about this dynamic before: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The scale of the LDP’s victory is hard to overstate:
• 316/465 seats (68%) — biggest win in party history
• Swept 31 of 47 prefectures
• With Ishin: 352 seats (76%), swept 33 prefectures
Results: www.asahi.com/senkyo/shuin...
• 316/465 seats (68%) — biggest win in party history
• Swept 31 of 47 prefectures
• With Ishin: 352 seats (76%), swept 33 prefectures
Results: www.asahi.com/senkyo/shuin...
February 8, 2026 at 9:17 PM
The scale of the LDP’s victory is hard to overstate:
• 316/465 seats (68%) — biggest win in party history
• Swept 31 of 47 prefectures
• With Ishin: 352 seats (76%), swept 33 prefectures
Results: www.asahi.com/senkyo/shuin...
• 316/465 seats (68%) — biggest win in party history
• Swept 31 of 47 prefectures
• With Ishin: 352 seats (76%), swept 33 prefectures
Results: www.asahi.com/senkyo/shuin...
Reposted by Charles McClean
Reminder: Join this online discussion tomorrow morning @japan.csis.org with @kristigovella.bsky.social (2016-17), @cmcclean.bsky.social (2020-21), & Nicholas Szechenyi to make sense of Sunday's election outcome and ways forward for Japan. More info: bit.ly/45HEAPT.
February 8, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Reminder: Join this online discussion tomorrow morning @japan.csis.org with @kristigovella.bsky.social (2016-17), @cmcclean.bsky.social (2020-21), & Nicholas Szechenyi to make sense of Sunday's election outcome and ways forward for Japan. More info: bit.ly/45HEAPT.
Reminder: there's still time to apply for the Japan Conference for Social Scientists @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
Deadline: Feb. 13
Submission link below ⬇️
Deadline: Feb. 13
Submission link below ⬇️
Anna Yorozuya and I are delighted to share that we're hosting the Japan Conference for Social Scientists on May 29-30 @yalemacmillan.bsky.social CEAS.
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
February 5, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Reminder: there's still time to apply for the Japan Conference for Social Scientists @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
Deadline: Feb. 13
Submission link below ⬇️
Deadline: Feb. 13
Submission link below ⬇️
Reposted by Charles McClean
Join us Feb 9 for a virtual discussion with experts @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nick Szechenyi on the outcome of Japan's general election and how it will impact the future direction of Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy.
🗓️ Register here: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
🗓️ Register here: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
February 2, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Join us Feb 9 for a virtual discussion with experts @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nick Szechenyi on the outcome of Japan's general election and how it will impact the future direction of Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy.
🗓️ Register here: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
🗓️ Register here: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
Reposted by Charles McClean
📢 Save the Date: Feb 9 at 8:00 - 9:00 am EST
The CSIS Japan Chair invites you to join a virtual discussion on Japan's February 8 general election results featuring @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nicholas Szechenyi.
Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
The CSIS Japan Chair invites you to join a virtual discussion on Japan's February 8 general election results featuring @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nicholas Szechenyi.
Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
January 30, 2026 at 5:45 PM
📢 Save the Date: Feb 9 at 8:00 - 9:00 am EST
The CSIS Japan Chair invites you to join a virtual discussion on Japan's February 8 general election results featuring @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nicholas Szechenyi.
Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
The CSIS Japan Chair invites you to join a virtual discussion on Japan's February 8 general election results featuring @kristigovella.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, & Nicholas Szechenyi.
Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/45HEAPT
Reposted by Charles McClean
The @csis.org Japan Chair program is pleased to welcome @cmcclean.bsky.social as a Non-resident Adjunct Fellow. Dr. McClean is an assistant professor at @yale.edu with expertise in Japanese domestic politics, the politics of age, and youth political representation: https://bit.ly/3ZJxOWh
January 29, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The @csis.org Japan Chair program is pleased to welcome @cmcclean.bsky.social as a Non-resident Adjunct Fellow. Dr. McClean is an assistant professor at @yale.edu with expertise in Japanese domestic politics, the politics of age, and youth political representation: https://bit.ly/3ZJxOWh
A great piece by my colleague Grace Kao (Sociology) on K-pop, soft power, and Japan-Korea diplomacy—sparked by the now-famous drum duet between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Lee. Glad to be quoted. www.koreaherald.com/article/1065...
[Grace Kao] Polyrhythmic diplomacy of K-pop in Korea-Japan ties
A week ago, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi drummed to “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” and BTS’ 2020 smash si
www.koreaherald.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:20 PM
A great piece by my colleague Grace Kao (Sociology) on K-pop, soft power, and Japan-Korea diplomacy—sparked by the now-famous drum duet between Prime Minister Takaichi and President Lee. Glad to be quoted. www.koreaherald.com/article/1065...
Anna Yorozuya and I are delighted to share that we're hosting the Japan Conference for Social Scientists on May 29-30 @yalemacmillan.bsky.social CEAS.
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
January 15, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Anna Yorozuya and I are delighted to share that we're hosting the Japan Conference for Social Scientists on May 29-30 @yalemacmillan.bsky.social CEAS.
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
🗓️ Apply by Feb. 13: macmillan.yale.edu/eastasia/eve...
At 34, Zohran Mamdani is New York's youngest mayor in over a century.
Over 2 million people voted—the most since 1969—fueled in part by strong youth turnout. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
Over 2 million people voted—the most since 1969—fueled in part by strong youth turnout. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
New York City Has Not Elected a Mayor This Young in More Than a Century
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
At 34, Zohran Mamdani is New York's youngest mayor in over a century.
Over 2 million people voted—the most since 1969—fueled in part by strong youth turnout. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
Over 2 million people voted—the most since 1969—fueled in part by strong youth turnout. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/n...
As Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi has appointed Katayama as the first female finance minister. Yet only two cabinet members are women—unchanged from Ishiba's outgoing cabinet.
Not quite the "Nordic levels" of women's representation that Takaichi campaigned on...
Not quite the "Nordic levels" of women's representation that Takaichi campaigned on...
October 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
As Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi has appointed Katayama as the first female finance minister. Yet only two cabinet members are women—unchanged from Ishiba's outgoing cabinet.
Not quite the "Nordic levels" of women's representation that Takaichi campaigned on...
Not quite the "Nordic levels" of women's representation that Takaichi campaigned on...
I spoke with @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social for this story on Takaichi, which also features great insights from Christina Davis @harvardusjapan.bsky.social, @mireyasolis.bsky.social, @kristigovella.bsky.social, and @sheilasmithcfr.bsky.social thedispatch.com/newsletter/m...
Japan’s Iron Lady
Sanae Takaichi is set to inherit a Japan reshaped by inflation, weak growth, and political turnover.
thedispatch.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I spoke with @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social for this story on Takaichi, which also features great insights from Christina Davis @harvardusjapan.bsky.social, @mireyasolis.bsky.social, @kristigovella.bsky.social, and @sheilasmithcfr.bsky.social thedispatch.com/newsletter/m...
Reposted by Charles McClean
Director Christina Davis, Charles McClean @cmcclean.bsky.social (2020-21), Kristi Govella @kristigovella.bsky.social (2017-18), and Sheila Smith @sheilasmithcfr.bsky.social (Distinguished Visitor, 2013-14) are quoted in The Dispatch article, "Japan's Iron Lady." tinyurl.com/yf3vmjpt
Japan’s Iron Lady
Sanae Takaichi is set to inherit a Japan reshaped by inflation, weak growth, and political turnover.
tinyurl.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Director Christina Davis, Charles McClean @cmcclean.bsky.social (2020-21), Kristi Govella @kristigovella.bsky.social (2017-18), and Sheila Smith @sheilasmithcfr.bsky.social (Distinguished Visitor, 2013-14) are quoted in The Dispatch article, "Japan's Iron Lady." tinyurl.com/yf3vmjpt
Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome James Raymo (Princeton) to @yale.edu to kick off two series:
- Population Studies Workshop @ispsyale.bsky.social
- Japan as Future @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
His talk focused on divorce, remarriage, and fertility in #Japan isps.yale.edu/events/2025/...
- Population Studies Workshop @ispsyale.bsky.social
- Japan as Future @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
His talk focused on divorce, remarriage, and fertility in #Japan isps.yale.edu/events/2025/...
September 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome James Raymo (Princeton) to @yale.edu to kick off two series:
- Population Studies Workshop @ispsyale.bsky.social
- Japan as Future @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
His talk focused on divorce, remarriage, and fertility in #Japan isps.yale.edu/events/2025/...
- Population Studies Workshop @ispsyale.bsky.social
- Japan as Future @yalemacmillan.bsky.social
His talk focused on divorce, remarriage, and fertility in #Japan isps.yale.edu/events/2025/...
With Ishiba resigning, Japan is set to have its 4th new PM in 5 years.
Notably, his minority coalition hasn't been unusually short by comparative standards—at 343 days so far, it's longer than the 327-day average in Europe (per our study).
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Notably, his minority coalition hasn't been unusually short by comparative standards—at 343 days so far, it's longer than the 327-day average in Europe (per our study).
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Minority Governments Revisited
Despite decades of scholarship on coalition bargaining in parliamentary democracies, minority governments remain a puzzle. From the 1970s on, cross-national empirical scholarship has shown minority go...
link.springer.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
With Ishiba resigning, Japan is set to have its 4th new PM in 5 years.
Notably, his minority coalition hasn't been unusually short by comparative standards—at 343 days so far, it's longer than the 327-day average in Europe (per our study).
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Notably, his minority coalition hasn't been unusually short by comparative standards—at 343 days so far, it's longer than the 327-day average in Europe (per our study).
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Excited to be co-organizing the new @ispsyale.bsky.social Population Studies Workshop with @dremmazang.bsky.social. We've got a fantastic lineup for the year—take a look!
The Yale Population Studies Workshop is live! Check out our fall lineup here: isps.yale.edu/population-s... Speakers span sociology, economics, medicine, and political science. Both Yale and non-Yale folks are welcome to sign up for the email listserv!
Population Studies Workshop
| Institution for Social and Policy Studies
isps.yale.edu
August 27, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Excited to be co-organizing the new @ispsyale.bsky.social Population Studies Workshop with @dremmazang.bsky.social. We've got a fantastic lineup for the year—take a look!
Japan elected a record 42 women to the Upper House—a step forward for gender representation.
But our article shows how visible progress in some areas can coexist with deeper patterns of inequality.
@takadanobaba.bsky.social, @clsturtz.bsky.social, Charles Crabtree
academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
But our article shows how visible progress in some areas can coexist with deeper patterns of inequality.
@takadanobaba.bsky.social, @clsturtz.bsky.social, Charles Crabtree
academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Selective development goals: examining Japan’s SDG implementation gaps
Abstract. In this article, we consider how efforts by the Japanese government and private sector to make the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
academic.oup.com
July 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Japan elected a record 42 women to the Upper House—a step forward for gender representation.
But our article shows how visible progress in some areas can coexist with deeper patterns of inequality.
@takadanobaba.bsky.social, @clsturtz.bsky.social, Charles Crabtree
academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
But our article shows how visible progress in some areas can coexist with deeper patterns of inequality.
@takadanobaba.bsky.social, @clsturtz.bsky.social, Charles Crabtree
academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Reposted by Charles McClean
Newly published, this paper by Paul Christensen, Cindi SturtzSreetharan, Charles Crabtree and Charles McClean looks at the implementation of the SDGs in Japan: academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Selective development goals: examining Japan’s SDG implementation gaps
Abstract. In this article, we consider how efforts by the Japanese government and private sector to make the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
academic.oup.com
July 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Newly published, this paper by Paul Christensen, Cindi SturtzSreetharan, Charles Crabtree and Charles McClean looks at the implementation of the SDGs in Japan: academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Reposted by Charles McClean
I wrote an article on the absurdity of Japan's use of the SDGs with @clsturtz.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, and Charles Crabtree. We think it's pretty good... Selective development goals: examining Japan’s SDG implementation gaps url: academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Validate User
academic.oup.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I wrote an article on the absurdity of Japan's use of the SDGs with @clsturtz.bsky.social, @cmcclean.bsky.social, and Charles Crabtree. We think it's pretty good... Selective development goals: examining Japan’s SDG implementation gaps url: academic.oup.com/ssjj/article...
Excited to join Yale Young Global Scholars again this year (@yale.edu)! I’ll be giving three talks on youth representation to 450 high school students from over 60 countries. Looking forward to hearing whether they’d ever consider running for office.
July 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Excited to join Yale Young Global Scholars again this year (@yale.edu)! I’ll be giving three talks on youth representation to 450 high school students from over 60 countries. Looking forward to hearing whether they’d ever consider running for office.
Reposted by Charles McClean
The Experimental Research section of the American Political Science Association (@experimentsapsa.bsky.social) invites research proposals from post-prospectus PhD students for its Experimental Research Early-Career Fellowship program. Share this post! @apsa.bsky.social, @poscresearch.bsky.social
May 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The Experimental Research section of the American Political Science Association (@experimentsapsa.bsky.social) invites research proposals from post-prospectus PhD students for its Experimental Research Early-Career Fellowship program. Share this post! @apsa.bsky.social, @poscresearch.bsky.social
Reposted by Charles McClean
Looking forward to hosting @cmcclean.bsky.social next week.
Join us and hear why younger politicians are so rare in countries like Japan and how this shortage shapes democracy and social policy 👇
Join us and hear why younger politicians are so rare in countries like Japan and how this shortage shapes democracy and social policy 👇
Excited to visit @fsi.stanford.edu @aparc.stanford.edu on Monday to discuss my book project on youth representation and its implications for policymaking and democracy. aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/events/silve...
Silver Democracy: Youth Representation in an Aging Japan
aparc.fsi.stanford.edu
April 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Looking forward to hosting @cmcclean.bsky.social next week.
Join us and hear why younger politicians are so rare in countries like Japan and how this shortage shapes democracy and social policy 👇
Join us and hear why younger politicians are so rare in countries like Japan and how this shortage shapes democracy and social policy 👇
Excited to visit @fsi.stanford.edu @aparc.stanford.edu on Monday to discuss my book project on youth representation and its implications for policymaking and democracy. aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/events/silve...
Silver Democracy: Youth Representation in an Aging Japan
aparc.fsi.stanford.edu
April 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Excited to visit @fsi.stanford.edu @aparc.stanford.edu on Monday to discuss my book project on youth representation and its implications for policymaking and democracy. aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/events/silve...