On October 9, 2024, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University held a roundtable seminar on “International History: State of the Field.” CISS invited experts and scholars from Harvard University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University of China (RUC) to participate in the seminar. The participants had in-depth discussions on changes in today’s international situation and new trends in the development of disciplines. She Gangzheng, Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations and Director of the Center for Overseas Security at Tsinghua University, moderated the seminar.

Erez Manela, Professor of the Department of History at Harvard University, elaborated on the unique significance of the new international history research and the important value of its future development in the context of the evolution of the concept of “Global South.” During the keynote discussions, the participating experts exchanged views on the great power competition, technological changes, and the development of disciplines. The experts believed that the new international history research should draw experience from history, pay attention to the key turning points of international politics, scientifically identify the important variables in the current situation, and further develop and innovate the experience of traditional international history research. Meanwhile, in the face of the development of intelligent technologies, especially the extensive application of big data and artificial intelligence, scholars proposed that the role of these technologies in reshaping the research methodology of international relations should be explored in depth.

In addition, the participating experts had in-depth discussions on the different perspectives of Chinese and foreign scholars on international history research and emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. Participating experts believed that the interdisciplinary intersection of international relations and history opens up new space and possibilities for future research. Discovering research topics that meet the development needs of the times and can stimulate multidisciplinary interest is crucial to promoting the disciplinary construction of new international history.

This seminar proposed forward-looking insights into the disciplinary construction of new international history, focusing on the impact of political changes and scientific and technological progress and exploring the potential growth points of disciplinary intersection, which has provided strong theoretical support for the future development of new international history research.

The seminar was also joined by Chinese experts including Chen Qi, Professor of the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University and Deputy Director of CISS; Sun Xuefeng, Professor of the Department of International Relations and Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University; Tang Xiaoyang, Professor and Chair of the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University and China Forum Expert; Huang Yuxing, Associate Professor of the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University; Li Chen, Associate Professor and Deputy Dean of the School of International Studies at RUC and Non-resident Fellow of CISS; Huang Chen, Associate Professor of the School of International Studies at RUC; Niu Ke, Associate Professor of the Department of History at Peking University; Wu Bohao, Assistant Professor of the Department of History at Peking University; He Jiani, Assistant Professor of the School of International Studies at Peking University; and Wang Congyue, Postdoc Fellow of CISS.