معرفی
Ketian Zhang is an Associate Professor of International Security in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018) and a BA in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Beginning in Fall 2025, she will serve as Faculty Director for the Schar School's International Relations Task Force.
- PhD, Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018
- BA, Political Science and Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Her research bridges international relations and comparative politics, with a strong focus on rising powers, coercion, economic statecraft, maritime disputes, and social movements, particularly in the context of China and East Asia. She explores how globalized production and supply chains influence state behavior, especially in foreign policy and grand strategy. Her theoretical work links international security with international political economy, offering a nuanced understanding of modern statecraft.
Her recent publications reflect a consistent trajectory in examining Chinese foreign policy, coercive diplomacy, and the strategic implications of economic interdependence. The articles span journals such as International Security, Journal of Strategic Studies, and Journal of Contemporary China, covering topics from the South China Sea disputes to supply chain politics. Collectively, her work emphasizes the growing convergence of economic and security tools in statecraft, particularly among rising powers.
Her research has been supported by leading institutions including:
- Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Stanford University
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
- Institute for Security and Conflict Studies, George Washington University
- Smith Richardson Foundation
- MIT Center for International Studies
- MIT Energy Initiative
- Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation
- Charles Koch Foundation
Ketian Zhang has also been affiliated with multiple prestigious research programs, including the Security Studies Program at MIT and think tanks such as Foreign Policy in Focus. She delivered a TEDx talk based on her first book, which examines China’s use of coercion in national security contexts. While student advising details are not publicly listed, her active research agenda and leadership role suggest strong mentorship and collaboration within her academic community.
She is affiliated with the following research centers and programs:
- Security Studies Program, MIT (affiliate)
- Schar School's International Relations Task Force (Faculty Director, starting Fall 2025)
