Ferran Perez Mena

Dr Ferran Perez Mena serves as Assistant Professor in International Relations of East Asia at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs. His academic profile centers on transnational political dynamics between Chinese and Western non-state actors, with emphasis on elite networks and knowledge production in global politics.

His research program investigates three interconnected domains: transnational elite connections between Chinese and Western non-state actors; formation of non-Western transnational elite networks; and relationships between Chinese IR scholars, the state, and conceptualizations of world order. Methodologically grounded in International Historical Sociology, his work examines Chinese international thought across historical periods including the Republican era, Maoism, and contemporary 'Chinese School of IR' frameworks.

Publication trends reveal consistent focus on East Asian political thought through historical-materialist lenses, with increasing emphasis on knowledge production mechanisms and non-Western IR theory development since 2019. His output spans monographs, journal articles in International Politics and Sociología Histórica, and policy-oriented contributions in major Spanish and Portuguese media outlets.

Scientific awards and recognition:

• British Academy grant (2024) for research on Chinese elites and knowledge production
• ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship offer (declined)
• Open University of Catalonia Postdoctoral Fellowship offer (declined)

His public intellectual engagement includes regular contributions to El País, La Vanguardia, and Publico analyzing East Asian geopolitical developments. Current research trajectories indicate deepening investigation into transnational elite networks and the political economy of knowledge production in Sino-Western relations.