China Social Science Review

No.3, 2022

Chinese Progress in and the Challenge of AI International Relations Research

(Abstract)

Feng Shuai

AI international relations research refers to international relations scholars’ systemic exploration of frontier digital technology, with a focus on the impact of AI progress on the international system and the process of interaction between international actors. China’s AI international relations research started in 2017. In the course of its development, it rapidly accumulated fruitful research findings and shaped a relatively clear multi-dimensional research path, laying a foundation for further systemic research. However, the rapid development of this research field has also revealed potential risks. Under the influence of the cyclical character of technological development and the tendency toward a research bubble in the work itself, the long-term and stable development of China’s AI international relations research is under great pressure. We can therefore only effectively cope with future risks and challenges by establishing effective links with the new disciplinary matrix of research on international issues, making rational plans for research topics, and actively building an academic community of AI international relations research.