Introduction of the Institute of International Studies (IIS), Jilin University

The Institute of International Studies (IIS) was founded in 2002 with its forerunner the Center of Contemporary International Relations (CIRS). Since its inception, the Institute has aimed at building up a new and strong discipline on the basis of world history studies, with contemporary international relations studies as a mainstream, pivoted by the study of international relations theories, holding on to dynamic combination of history, reality and theories, hence forming a unique research perspective.

Staff

Led by Director Liu Debin, the deputy Chairman of China National Association for International Studies (CNAIS), the Institute has organized a high intellectual academic team of profound attainments and fine age structure. Now IIS has 11 full time researchers, including 8 professors and associate professors, 3 lecturers, all of whom have Ph.Ds. The Institute also has 5 part-time professors and associate professors from Jilin University. IIS employed Professor Barry Buzan of London School of Economics and Political Science, a fellow of the British Academy; Professor Brantly Womack from the Department of Politics in University of Virginia; and Professor Steven Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter as Honorary Professors.

Research Works

The Institute has impressive achievements in academic research during the past 8 years. Since 2002, the Institute has published over 80 academic articles in leading journals like International Studies, World History, Historiography Quarterly, Social Science Front Bimonthly, Journal of Peking University, Northeast Asia Forum, etc. The noticeable academic monographs (translations) are over ten: The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society (translation, 2008); Trade, Culture and Regionalization of the World---Interaction and Comparison of China and the World in the Early Modern Period (2007); History of Northeast Asia (2006); On the Historical Relationship between China and the Korean Peninsula (2006); East Asian History (2006); The Regions of China (2006); The Study on Henry A. Kissinger's Strategy of Equilibrium (2005); International System in World History; Remaking the Study of International Relations (translation, 2004); International Relations History (2003); The Issues of Contemporary International Relations (2003), etc. Among all these, International Relations History belongs to the Textbook Series for 21st Century and was selected as a high school textbook for history and international relations teachings. The Institute also takes on two national projects of "Contemporary International Politics" and "International History", and over 10 other level research projects.

Research Directions

Major research directions are: international history, English School Theory, International Relations of East Asia, American Studies and Soft Power Studies, etc. In recent years, the Institute also enhanced the "Chinese Studies."

Education

The Institute offers both M.A. degree program and Ph.D. program (International History & International Politics). Over 20 students graduated every year. Since 2006, the Institute launched "Contemporary International Relations Studies" program (English) for international students, admitting around 25 M.A. and Ph.D. students annually from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Academic Exchanges

IIS has established an international prestige through frequent academic communications, including a series of high level international workshops and academic lectures. From 2003 through 2009, the Institute has hosted 4 international workshops on English School. Since 2008, the Institute has cooperated with Yonsei University in holding an "Annual Graduate Workshop East Asian Affairs." The Institute has invited famous scholars home and broad, including Barry Buzan, Tu Weiming, John Mearsheimer, Qi Shirong, Yuan Ming, Qin Yaqing, David Shambough, Brantly Womack, Steve Smith, Tim Dunne, to present lectures in Jilin University. The faculty members have also actively participated in academic exchanges in countries and regions like America, Britain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc.

The Institute of International Studies in Jilin University sticks to the ideas of openness and inclusiveness. We wholeheartedly welcome any academic entity, think tank and practical department, home and abroad, to exchange and cooperation with our Institute.