▷Center for Global Studies
The Center for Global Studies addresses the impact which the global economy and the global political order have on the countries and regions of the Global South. In pursuing this objective, it seeks to explore and develop methodologies, theories, and paradigms for Area Studies which enable an integrated understanding of the Global South. The focus is on issues which are of shared interest to the countries of the Global South, using interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, to strengthen the empirical foundation of regional and country-specific research, the centre has established fieldwork stations in core research regions based on the research needs of developing countries. The fieldwork stations adhere to the research philosophy of ‘rooting in the field and immersing deeply,’ aiming to build a comprehensive field research platform that integrates academic research, talent cultivation, and knowledge production. By having researchers reside long-term in target countries and deeply integrate into local social structures, the stations provide vibrant empirical support for the theoretical construction of global issues. Attention is, in particular, given to the impact of global factors on these countries. The center adheres to perspectives of topic-led transnational and cross-regional comparative research, takes into account the theoretical foundation of discipline and cross-regional perspectives, and focuses on promoting theoretical construction, field research, academic network construction, data resource management and student training related to global issues.
Led by Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter, the academic and research team of the center currently has six assistant professors, one PhD student, and one research assistant. The research team of the center has a diverse disciplinary background, covering different disciplines including political science, history, sociology, and anthropology. The study covers a wide range of regions, including Sub-Saharan African, Eurasia, Latin American and Caribbean, West Asian and North African, and South and Southeast Asian.
In terms of work content, the center will strive to promote topic focus and theoretical construction of global issues research, seek optimal combination between interdisciplinarity, regional foundation and global issues, and carry out cutting-edge research practice and theoretical innovation exploration around global issues.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Southeast Asian Studies
▷Center for Global Studies
The Center for Global Studies addresses the impact which the global economy and the global political order have on the countries and regions of the Global South. In pursuing this objective, it seeks to explore and develop methodologies, theories, and paradigms for Area Studies which enable an integrated understanding of the Global South. The focus is on issues which are of shared interest to the countries of the Global South, using interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, to strengthen the empirical foundation of regional and country-specific research, the centre has established fieldwork stations in core research regions based on the research needs of developing countries. The fieldwork stations adhere to the research philosophy of ‘rooting in the field and immersing deeply,’ aiming to build a comprehensive field research platform that integrates academic research, talent cultivation, and knowledge production. By having researchers reside long-term in target countries and deeply integrate into local social structures, the stations provide vibrant empirical support for the theoretical construction of global issues. Attention is, in particular, given to the impact of global factors on these countries. The center adheres to perspectives of topic-led transnational and cross-regional comparative research, takes into account the theoretical foundation of discipline and cross-regional perspectives, and focuses on promoting theoretical construction, field research, academic network construction, data resource management and student training related to global issues.
Led by Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter, the academic and research team of the center currently has six assistant professors, one PhD student, and one research assistant. The research team of the center has a diverse disciplinary background, covering different disciplines including political science, history, sociology, and anthropology. The study covers a wide range of regions, including Sub-Saharan African, Eurasia, Latin American and Caribbean, West Asian and North African, and South and Southeast Asian.
In terms of work content, the center will strive to promote topic focus and theoretical construction of global issues research, seek optimal combination between interdisciplinarity, regional foundation and global issues, and carry out cutting-edge research practice and theoretical innovation exploration around global issues.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Southeast Asian Studies
The Center for Southeast Asia Studies was founded in June 2025 as an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University. Dedicated to Southeast Asian studies, the Center adheres to an academic tradition emphasizing both basic research and fieldwork. It is committed to conducting in-depth reseaches on historical, social, cultural, political, economic, and developing issues in Southeast Asia with comparative and interdisciplinary approaches.
The Center comprises 1 Assistant Researcher, 1 Postdoctoral Fellow, 10 Ph.D. candidates/students, and 1 Research Assistant. Team members specialize in sociology, economics, political science, world history, anthropology, and related fields. The Center's research scope spans Southeast Asian nations including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, as well as broader regional issues.
Prioritizing international academic collaboration, the Center has forged partnerships with leading universities and research institutions globally, particularly those in Southeast Asia. Collaborators include Kyoto University (Japan), National University of Singapore, Thammasat University (Thailand), Vietnam National University Hanoi, University of Malaya (Malaysia), and Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines). Notably, the Center co-established the Thailand Fieldwork Station with Thammasat University, serving as a strategic hub for immersive regional research, primary data collection, and collaborative network expansion.
In academic activities and knowledge production, the Center focuses on critical Southeast Asian research themes, organizing interdisciplinary seminars and collaborative projects. It regularly hosts international academic lectures, seminars and conferences. The Center also produces specialized publications such as the "Regional Dynamics" column to track latest scholarship on Southeast Asia and relevant information, striving to become a premier academic platform integrating cutting-edge insights, academic research, and public knowledge engagement.
▷Center for South Asian Studies
The Center for South Asian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in July 2022. The center aims to achieve two major goals: "South Asian studies" and "cultivating talents in Area studies". It innovates the discipline construction and talent cultivation model, improves the scientific research innovation mechanism and development direction guidance, and strives to become a comprehensive academic research platform for regional and disciplinary intersections as well as a systematic and comprehensive research resource center for South Asia.
The Center for South Asian Studies is led by Professor Jiang Jingkui, the director of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) and a senior expert in South Asia studies. Currently, it has one professor, two assistant professors, seven PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Journalism and Communication, Hydraulic Engineering , with geographic coverage encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and other South Asian countries
Relying on the interdisciplinary advantages and first-class teaching and research facilities of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) , the center focuses on basic research and takes field investigation as the main approach. It serves the national strategic needs and actively promotes discipline construction, scientific research innovation, social services, and international exchanges and cooperation. The center publishes the open-access journal "South Asian Review" (launched in 2022) in China and has set up a field station at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The Center also conducts teaching and research cooperation with other universities in South Asia.
▷Center for West Asian and North African Studies
▷Center for South Asian Studies
The Center for South Asian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in July 2022. The center aims to achieve two major goals: "South Asian studies" and "cultivating talents in Area studies". It innovates the discipline construction and talent cultivation model, improves the scientific research innovation mechanism and development direction guidance, and strives to become a comprehensive academic research platform for regional and disciplinary intersections as well as a systematic and comprehensive research resource center for South Asia.
The Center for South Asian Studies is led by Professor Jiang Jingkui, the director of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) and a senior expert in South Asia studies. Currently, it has one professor, two assistant professors, seven PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Journalism and Communication, Hydraulic Engineering , with geographic coverage encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and other South Asian countries
Relying on the interdisciplinary advantages and first-class teaching and research facilities of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) , the center focuses on basic research and takes field investigation as the main approach. It serves the national strategic needs and actively promotes discipline construction, scientific research innovation, social services, and international exchanges and cooperation. The center publishes the open-access journal "South Asian Review" (launched in 2022) in China and has set up a field station at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The Center also conducts teaching and research cooperation with other universities in South Asia.
▷Center for West Asian and North African Studies
Founded in November 2022, the Center for West Asian and North African Studies is an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University. Dedicated to fundamental research anchored in fieldwork, the Center strives to advance academic studies and talent development through comparative and interdisciplinary research on the West Asian and North African region. Its research agenda emcompasses historical and contemporary dimensions of the region, crossing the boundaries between humanities and sciences.
The Center comprises five assistant professors, six PhD students, and one research assistant. Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter serves as chair professor, while his colleague Professor Adam Hanieh holds a joint chair professorship. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning political science, law, sociology, and history, with geographic coverage encompassing Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and other West Asian and North African countries.
The Center has collaborated extensively with a number of the world’s most prestigious universities and research institutes, including the Middle East Centre of Oxford University, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter, the Department of Near Eastern Studies of Princeton University, the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, and the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences of the University of Shahid Beheshti in Iran. In addition, the Center has established a field station with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah in the UAE, further deepening the Center’s cooperation in the target country of research.
The Center is working to enrich the academic community’s understanding of Area Studies, and strives to become an important academic force in promoting West Asian and North African studies.
▷Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies
Founded in November 2022, the Center for West Asian and North African Studies is an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University. Dedicated to fundamental research anchored in fieldwork, the Center strives to advance academic studies and talent development through comparative and interdisciplinary research on the West Asian and North African region. Its research agenda emcompasses historical and contemporary dimensions of the region, crossing the boundaries between humanities and sciences.
The Center comprises five assistant professors, six PhD students, and one research assistant. Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter serves as chair professor, while his colleague Professor Adam Hanieh holds a joint chair professorship. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning political science, law, sociology, and history, with geographic coverage encompassing Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and other West Asian and North African countries.
The Center has collaborated extensively with a number of the world’s most prestigious universities and research institutes, including the Middle East Centre of Oxford University, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter, the Department of Near Eastern Studies of Princeton University, the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, and the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences of the University of Shahid Beheshti in Iran. In addition, the Center has established a field station with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah in the UAE, further deepening the Center’s cooperation in the target country of research.
The Center is working to enrich the academic community’s understanding of Area Studies, and strives to become an important academic force in promoting West Asian and North African studies.
▷Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies
The Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies (CSAS) was founded in April 2024 as an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University. The Center prioritizes fundamental research, fieldwork, and the construction of research databases related to African studies, dedicating itself to the development of the first-level discipline of Area Studies in China. With the production and dissemination of knowledge on African Studies as its mission, the Center is committed to promoting the exchange of academic insights, and strives to become an important research platform connecting China, Africa, and the international African Studies community.
Headed by Dr. Gao Liangmin (director) and Dr. Xiong Xinghan (vice director), the Center comprises five assistant professors, five PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning sociology, economics, political science, public administration, world history, anthropology, and other disciplines, with geographic coverage encompassing South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda, Rwanda, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Chad, and other Sub-Saharan African countries.
The Center maintains close academic ties with numerous universities and research institutes both in China and abroad, especially those in Sub-Saharan African countries. It has developed substantive cooperation with institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Exeter, the University of Cape Town, the University of Rwanda, the University of Dar es Salaam, the Ifakara Health Institute of Tanzania, the Makerere University, the University of Toamasina, the University of Mauritius, the University of Lagos, the Medical College of the Aga Khan University in Kenya, and the University of Dakar, among others. The academic exchanges, field research, and academic visits carried out by the Center’s faculty and students in their research countries have been supported by these partner institutions. Additionally, the Center has jointly established a field station with the University of Rwanda in Kigali, which will further expand and deepen the cooperation between the two sides.
Complementing individual academic outputs from its researchers, the Center also produces scholarly contributions as a whole. Centering on significant historical, political, economic, and social issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Center engages in academic exchanges and cooperation both within and outside the IIAS, across regions and disciplines, yielding impactful academic outcomes. Committed to becoming an academic platform that balances academic vision, professional depth, and the promotion of public knowledge, the Center organizes academic conferences, hosts academic lectures, and curates a column on Sub-Saharan African region titled “Regional Dynamics”.
▷Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University was established in April 2024. The Center is committed to advancing area studies, with a focus on Latin American and Caribbean studies and talent cultivation. It prioritizes problem-oriented basic research, long-time extensive fieldwork, interdisciplinary collaboration through comparative studies, and theoretical innovation that balances particularity and generality. The Center’s goals include conducting in-depth examinations of the history and reality of Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting knowledge production and talent cultivation, and facilitating academic exchange. It aims to foster an academic community in Latin American and Caribbean studies, encompassing researchers, PhD students, and scholars from around the world, to encourage collaborative and innovative academic endeavors.
At present, the Center’s research team comprises one chair professor, four assistant professors, nine PhD students, and one research assistant. Currently, the Center is headed by Assistant Professor Dr. Yan Zhou. The research team possesses diverse disciplinary backgrounds spanning political science, economics, public administration, sociology, world history, art theory, and ecology, with geographic coverage encompassing Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile , etc.. Each semester, the Center organizes various academic activities, including individual and series lectures, academic conferences and salons, to provide a platform for scholars specializing in Latin American and Caribbean Studies to deepen their understanding of the region.
The Center continues to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the world-renowned universities and research institutions through joint research projects, academic conferences, and field research. Currently, the Center’s partners include University of Oxford, University of Exeter, University of CEMA, Torcuato Di Tella University, University of Chile, University of Brasilia, College of Mexico, National Autonomous University of Mexico, etc.
Building upon the interdisciplinary and inter-regional teaching and research strengths of the IIAS, the Center aims to enrich the academic community’s knowledge and understanding of area studies. It seeks to advance the development of the first-level discipline of area studies, and endeavor to play an important academic role in the advancement of Latin American and Caribbean studies.
▷Center for Global Studies
The Center for Global Studies addresses the impact which the global economy and the global political order have on the countries and regions of the Global South. In pursuing this objective, it seeks to explore and develop methodologies, theories, and paradigms for Area Studies which enable an integrated understanding of the Global South. The focus is on issues which are of shared interest to the countries of the Global South, using interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, to strengthen the empirical foundation of regional and country-specific research, the centre has established fieldwork stations in core research regions based on the research needs of developing countries. The fieldwork stations adhere to the research philosophy of ‘rooting in the field and immersing deeply,’ aiming to build a comprehensive field research platform that integrates academic research, talent cultivation, and knowledge production. By having researchers reside long-term in target countries and deeply integrate into local social structures, the stations provide vibrant empirical support for the theoretical construction of global issues. Attention is, in particular, given to the impact of global factors on these countries. The center adheres to perspectives of topic-led transnational and cross-regional comparative research, takes into account the theoretical foundation of discipline and cross-regional perspectives, and focuses on promoting theoretical construction, field research, academic network construction, data resource management and student training related to global issues.
Led by Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter, the academic and research team of the center currently has six assistant professors, one PhD student, and one research assistant. The research team of the center has a diverse disciplinary background, covering different disciplines including political science, history, sociology, and anthropology. The study covers a wide range of regions, including Sub-Saharan African, Eurasia, Latin American and Caribbean, West Asian and North African, and South and Southeast Asian.
In terms of work content, the center will strive to promote topic focus and theoretical construction of global issues research, seek optimal combination between interdisciplinarity, regional foundation and global issues, and carry out cutting-edge research practice and theoretical innovation exploration around global issues.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Southeast Asian Studies
▷Center for Global Studies
The Center for Global Studies addresses the impact which the global economy and the global political order have on the countries and regions of the Global South. In pursuing this objective, it seeks to explore and develop methodologies, theories, and paradigms for Area Studies which enable an integrated understanding of the Global South. The focus is on issues which are of shared interest to the countries of the Global South, using interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, to strengthen the empirical foundation of regional and country-specific research, the centre has established fieldwork stations in core research regions based on the research needs of developing countries. The fieldwork stations adhere to the research philosophy of ‘rooting in the field and immersing deeply,’ aiming to build a comprehensive field research platform that integrates academic research, talent cultivation, and knowledge production. By having researchers reside long-term in target countries and deeply integrate into local social structures, the stations provide vibrant empirical support for the theoretical construction of global issues. Attention is, in particular, given to the impact of global factors on these countries. The center adheres to perspectives of topic-led transnational and cross-regional comparative research, takes into account the theoretical foundation of discipline and cross-regional perspectives, and focuses on promoting theoretical construction, field research, academic network construction, data resource management and student training related to global issues.
Led by Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter, the academic and research team of the center currently has six assistant professors, one PhD student, and one research assistant. The research team of the center has a diverse disciplinary background, covering different disciplines including political science, history, sociology, and anthropology. The study covers a wide range of regions, including Sub-Saharan African, Eurasia, Latin American and Caribbean, West Asian and North African, and South and Southeast Asian.
In terms of work content, the center will strive to promote topic focus and theoretical construction of global issues research, seek optimal combination between interdisciplinarity, regional foundation and global issues, and carry out cutting-edge research practice and theoretical innovation exploration around global issues.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Eurasia Studies
The Center for Eurasian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was founded in November 2022. The center is dedicated to promoting the development of area studies as a first-level discipline while conducting Eurasian studies and nurturing talents. Under its new system of disciplines, the Center is committed to building a synergistic and supportive academic research community to offer an encouraging environment for academic exchange for PhD students, researchers and visiting scholars.
The Center’s research team is led by Professor Shen Zhihua, a renowned expert in Cold War history and member of Academic Committee at the IIAS. The team also encompasses three assistant professors, seven PhD students, and a research assistant. Team members possess diverse disciplinary backgrounds, covering political science, economics, world history and other disciplines, and their research spans many countries and regions, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Romania, and the Korean Peninsula. Every semester, the Center organizes a series of academic lectures and conferences on different topics, as well as film, documentary and art exhibitions, providing a platform for scholars and anyone else interested to learn more about Eurasia.
The Center maintains close academic ties with a number of universities and research institutions in China and abroad. It has engaged in extensive, accomplishment-laden cooperation and joint research projects with Oxford University, the University of Exeter, KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, Osh State University in Kyrgyzstan, and the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. In addition, field research in Eurasian studies by PhD students at the IIAS is supported by overseas partner institutions.
▷Center for Southeast Asian Studies
The Center for Southeast Asia Studies was founded in June 2025 as an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University. Dedicated to Southeast Asian studies, the Center adheres to an academic tradition emphasizing both basic research and fieldwork. It is committed to conducting in-depth reseaches on historical, social, cultural, political, economic, and developing issues in Southeast Asia with comparative and interdisciplinary approaches.
The Center comprises 1 Assistant Researcher, 1 Postdoctoral Fellow, 10 Ph.D. candidates/students, and 1 Research Assistant. Team members specialize in sociology, economics, political science, world history, anthropology, and related fields. The Center's research scope spans Southeast Asian nations including Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, as well as broader regional issues.
Prioritizing international academic collaboration, the Center has forged partnerships with leading universities and research institutions globally, particularly those in Southeast Asia. Collaborators include Kyoto University (Japan), National University of Singapore, Thammasat University (Thailand), Vietnam National University Hanoi, University of Malaya (Malaysia), and Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines). Notably, the Center co-established the Thailand Fieldwork Station with Thammasat University, serving as a strategic hub for immersive regional research, primary data collection, and collaborative network expansion.
In academic activities and knowledge production, the Center focuses on critical Southeast Asian research themes, organizing interdisciplinary seminars and collaborative projects. It regularly hosts international academic lectures, seminars and conferences. The Center also produces specialized publications such as the "Regional Dynamics" column to track latest scholarship on Southeast Asia and relevant information, striving to become a premier academic platform integrating cutting-edge insights, academic research, and public knowledge engagement.
▷Center for South Asian Studies
The Center for South Asian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in July 2022. The center aims to achieve two major goals: "South Asian studies" and "cultivating talents in Area studies". It innovates the discipline construction and talent cultivation model, improves the scientific research innovation mechanism and development direction guidance, and strives to become a comprehensive academic research platform for regional and disciplinary intersections as well as a systematic and comprehensive research resource center for South Asia.
The Center for South Asian Studies is led by Professor Jiang Jingkui, the director of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) and a senior expert in South Asia studies. Currently, it has one professor, two assistant professors, seven PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Journalism and Communication, Hydraulic Engineering , with geographic coverage encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and other South Asian countries
Relying on the interdisciplinary advantages and first-class teaching and research facilities of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) , the center focuses on basic research and takes field investigation as the main approach. It serves the national strategic needs and actively promotes discipline construction, scientific research innovation, social services, and international exchanges and cooperation. The center publishes the open-access journal "South Asian Review" (launched in 2022) in China and has set up a field station at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The Center also conducts teaching and research cooperation with other universities in South Asia.
▷Center for West Asian and North African Studies
▷Center for South Asian Studies
The Center for South Asian Studies of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in July 2022. The center aims to achieve two major goals: "South Asian studies" and "cultivating talents in Area studies". It innovates the discipline construction and talent cultivation model, improves the scientific research innovation mechanism and development direction guidance, and strives to become a comprehensive academic research platform for regional and disciplinary intersections as well as a systematic and comprehensive research resource center for South Asia.
The Center for South Asian Studies is led by Professor Jiang Jingkui, the director of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) and a senior expert in South Asia studies. Currently, it has one professor, two assistant professors, seven PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Journalism and Communication, Hydraulic Engineering , with geographic coverage encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and other South Asian countries
Relying on the interdisciplinary advantages and first-class teaching and research facilities of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) , the center focuses on basic research and takes field investigation as the main approach. It serves the national strategic needs and actively promotes discipline construction, scientific research innovation, social services, and international exchanges and cooperation. The center publishes the open-access journal "South Asian Review" (launched in 2022) in China and has set up a field station at Kathmandu University, Nepal. The Center also conducts teaching and research cooperation with other universities in South Asia.
▷Center for West Asian and North African Studies
Founded in November 2022, the Center for West Asian and North African Studies is an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University. Dedicated to fundamental research anchored in fieldwork, the Center strives to advance academic studies and talent development through comparative and interdisciplinary research on the West Asian and North African region. Its research agenda emcompasses historical and contemporary dimensions of the region, crossing the boundaries between humanities and sciences.
The Center comprises five assistant professors, six PhD students, and one research assistant. Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter serves as chair professor, while his colleague Professor Adam Hanieh holds a joint chair professorship. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning political science, law, sociology, and history, with geographic coverage encompassing Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and other West Asian and North African countries.
The Center has collaborated extensively with a number of the world’s most prestigious universities and research institutes, including the Middle East Centre of Oxford University, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter, the Department of Near Eastern Studies of Princeton University, the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, and the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences of the University of Shahid Beheshti in Iran. In addition, the Center has established a field station with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah in the UAE, further deepening the Center’s cooperation in the target country of research.
The Center is working to enrich the academic community’s understanding of Area Studies, and strives to become an important academic force in promoting West Asian and North African studies.
▷Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies
Founded in November 2022, the Center for West Asian and North African Studies is an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University. Dedicated to fundamental research anchored in fieldwork, the Center strives to advance academic studies and talent development through comparative and interdisciplinary research on the West Asian and North African region. Its research agenda emcompasses historical and contemporary dimensions of the region, crossing the boundaries between humanities and sciences.
The Center comprises five assistant professors, six PhD students, and one research assistant. Professor Tim Niblock from the University of Exeter serves as chair professor, while his colleague Professor Adam Hanieh holds a joint chair professorship. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning political science, law, sociology, and history, with geographic coverage encompassing Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Israel, and other West Asian and North African countries.
The Center has collaborated extensively with a number of the world’s most prestigious universities and research institutes, including the Middle East Centre of Oxford University, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the University of Exeter, the Department of Near Eastern Studies of Princeton University, the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, and the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences of the University of Shahid Beheshti in Iran. In addition, the Center has established a field station with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah in the UAE, further deepening the Center’s cooperation in the target country of research.
The Center is working to enrich the academic community’s understanding of Area Studies, and strives to become an important academic force in promoting West Asian and North African studies.
▷Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies
The Center for Sub-Saharan African Studies (CSAS) was founded in April 2024 as an affiliate to the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University. The Center prioritizes fundamental research, fieldwork, and the construction of research databases related to African studies, dedicating itself to the development of the first-level discipline of Area Studies in China. With the production and dissemination of knowledge on African Studies as its mission, the Center is committed to promoting the exchange of academic insights, and strives to become an important research platform connecting China, Africa, and the international African Studies community.
Headed by Dr. Gao Liangmin (director) and Dr. Xiong Xinghan (vice director), the Center comprises five assistant professors, five PhD students, and one research assistant. The researchers at the Center possess multidisciplinary expertise spanning sociology, economics, political science, public administration, world history, anthropology, and other disciplines, with geographic coverage encompassing South Africa, Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda, Rwanda, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Chad, and other Sub-Saharan African countries.
The Center maintains close academic ties with numerous universities and research institutes both in China and abroad, especially those in Sub-Saharan African countries. It has developed substantive cooperation with institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Exeter, the University of Cape Town, the University of Rwanda, the University of Dar es Salaam, the Ifakara Health Institute of Tanzania, the Makerere University, the University of Toamasina, the University of Mauritius, the University of Lagos, the Medical College of the Aga Khan University in Kenya, and the University of Dakar, among others. The academic exchanges, field research, and academic visits carried out by the Center’s faculty and students in their research countries have been supported by these partner institutions. Additionally, the Center has jointly established a field station with the University of Rwanda in Kigali, which will further expand and deepen the cooperation between the two sides.
Complementing individual academic outputs from its researchers, the Center also produces scholarly contributions as a whole. Centering on significant historical, political, economic, and social issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Center engages in academic exchanges and cooperation both within and outside the IIAS, across regions and disciplines, yielding impactful academic outcomes. Committed to becoming an academic platform that balances academic vision, professional depth, and the promotion of public knowledge, the Center organizes academic conferences, hosts academic lectures, and curates a column on Sub-Saharan African region titled “Regional Dynamics”.
▷Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University was established in April 2024. The Center is committed to advancing area studies, with a focus on Latin American and Caribbean studies and talent cultivation. It prioritizes problem-oriented basic research, long-time extensive fieldwork, interdisciplinary collaboration through comparative studies, and theoretical innovation that balances particularity and generality. The Center’s goals include conducting in-depth examinations of the history and reality of Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting knowledge production and talent cultivation, and facilitating academic exchange. It aims to foster an academic community in Latin American and Caribbean studies, encompassing researchers, PhD students, and scholars from around the world, to encourage collaborative and innovative academic endeavors.
At present, the Center’s research team comprises one chair professor, four assistant professors, nine PhD students, and one research assistant. Currently, the Center is headed by Assistant Professor Dr. Yan Zhou. The research team possesses diverse disciplinary backgrounds spanning political science, economics, public administration, sociology, world history, art theory, and ecology, with geographic coverage encompassing Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile , etc.. Each semester, the Center organizes various academic activities, including individual and series lectures, academic conferences and salons, to provide a platform for scholars specializing in Latin American and Caribbean Studies to deepen their understanding of the region.
The Center continues to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the world-renowned universities and research institutions through joint research projects, academic conferences, and field research. Currently, the Center’s partners include University of Oxford, University of Exeter, University of CEMA, Torcuato Di Tella University, University of Chile, University of Brasilia, College of Mexico, National Autonomous University of Mexico, etc.
Building upon the interdisciplinary and inter-regional teaching and research strengths of the IIAS, the Center aims to enrich the academic community’s knowledge and understanding of area studies. It seeks to advance the development of the first-level discipline of area studies, and endeavor to play an important academic role in the advancement of Latin American and Caribbean studies.
